GUAM coach EJ Calvo was straight to the point.
The team needs to a do a better job pounding the boards if it is to get even against Gilas Pilipinas in their rematch in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers this Monday.
Not lost on the former national player turned coach was the huge rebounding discrepancy between the two sides, with the Philippines holding a 61-36 edge off the boards on the way to a dominant 87-46 win Friday night at the University of Guam Calvo Field House.
The total 61 rebounds of Gilas now rank as the highest output in Asian qualifying tournament and no.3 overall in World Cup qualifiers.
READ: Thanks to Fajardo and QMB, Gilas sets a new rebounding record
June Mar Fajardo and rookie big man Quentin Millora-Brown had 10 each for the Philippine side, AJ Edu added eight, while Dwight Ramos and Scottie Thompson had a combined 11 rebounds.
While Guam obviously missed the services of explosive guard Earnest Ross Jr., Calvo said the 41-point blowout all boiled down to rebounding.
“We have to rebound better. That’s not a personnel issue for us. We know Earnest is a good rebounder,” he said, refusing to use the absence of one of Guam’s top offensive players for the loss
“We’re not physical enough and that’s something we don’t like as a team. Like to admit that when we go to a game, our rebounder they got push around. Or we failed to engage and hit persons on shots which led to their high percentage on putbacks.”
Of Guam’s 36 total rebounds, not a single player finished in double figures, with Jonathan Galloway leading the way with eight.
“If that wasn’t the case, it would have been a different story. So we know that’s going to be an area of focus,” added Calvo.
The absence of Ross, who plays for Shanan United in the Japan B3 League, did hurt Guam, but Calvo felt the team has extra firepower to fill up the void left by team’s prolific scoring guard.
“Definitely without Earnest, we’re looking to more offensive contributions, and we believe we have some really good talent who could shoot the ball, talent who can get to the basket, so we got to motivate our guys to bring that to the next game,” he said.
“That’s something we want to do a better job the next game.”
Guam however, will play before a hostile crowd at the Blue Eagle gym when Gilas hosts the second game of the qualifier’s opening window on Dec. 1.
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