HERE are the top sports news from Thursday.
Sports news August 24
Sasha Dordevic now respects Gilas
Sasha Dordevic, the former Serbia coach who said Gilas Pilipinas was “missing quality,” believes the current Philippine team has improved a lot ahead of the Fiba World Cup.
Handling the Serbia team that annihilated Gilas, 126-67, in the 2019 edition of the World Cup in China, Dordevic now calls the shots for the Chinese national team and has seen some recent clips of the Philippine team.
“The Philippines is a team to respect,” Dordevic said.
The Serbian mentor insisted he has long moved on from his criticism of Gilas.
“Trust me, it’s a long time ago,” Dordevic said, adding how grateful he is for the warm welcome extended to him and the Chinese team by the host country.
Chip Engelland makes PH homecoming
He may be part of the visiting Team USA, but Chip Engelland is relishing his Philippine homecoming for this year’s Fiba World Cup.
The Americans’ shooting coach is thrilled to be back in Manila, which has always welcomed him with open arms since the 1980s when he became one of the Philippine team’s naturalized players and a Northern Consolidated star under the late great Ron Jacobs.
“I couldn’t be more excited. I feel I’m home again. It feels really good,” said Engelland, who’s part of Steve Kerr’s illustrious staff that also has someone with Filipino blood in Erik Spoelstra.
Engelland bared he will have a reunion with his former teammates and will visit Samboy Lim during breaks from the world showpiece.
Who from Gilas will defend Karl-Anthony Towns?
Gilas Pilipinas has its work cut out right in its Fiba World Cup debut tonight (Friday) when it takes on Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
And national coach Chot Reyes is wondering who can stop the head of the Dominicana snake in Karl-Anthony Towns.
Reyes has four big men at his disposal in in Kai Sotto, June Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu, and Japeth Aguilar, but the veteran coach would’ve wanted a more versatile defender against one of the NBA’s best big men.
“Yung katulad ni Ranidel de Ocampo, pwede rin ilagay kay Towns,” said Reyes.
Without RDO, who can Gilas turn to against KAT?
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