JAKARTA – Unlike China, Korea won't have any of those gangling seven-footers in the paint when it takes on the Philippines in this 2018 Asian Games men’s basketball tournament playoffs.
That's reason enough for the Filipinos to attack the basket.
“Mas mabuti sa atin ‘yung match-up, size-wise against Korea. We are hoping that our guys are able to finish strong around the basket," said Guiao at the end of Team Pilipinas' practice on Friday afternoon.
The Philippines lost to China, 82-80, in their second preliminary match earlier this week in a game dominated by Zhou Qi, the 7-foot-1 big man of the Houston Rockets who swatted away seven enemy shots.
There won't be such towers to contend with against Korea, which relies more on its swift, ball movement, quickness, and torrid shooting to frustrate opponents.
Guiao couldn't put the difference between the two teams any better when he said, “Hindi katulad nung sa China na parang nagdidilim ang langit kapag pumasok ka sa loob. Dito siguro, may konting bukang liwayway.”
The multi-titled coach, however, was quick to add: “It doesn’t mean that the game is going to be easier because they have their other strengths, which is outside shooting and ball movement. May kanya-kanya silang strengths and weaknesses. Pero para sa akin, Korea is as dangerous as China in a different way.”
Although without a giant inside, Guiao pointed out that 6-8 naturalized player Ricardo Ratliffe is still integral to Korea's offense since he attracts double teams that open up the Koeans' dreaded shooters.
Pick your poison?
“He is their primary option. They give him a lot of touches and he is able to draw the double team or collapse the defense. That’s all that they need for their shots to go in. He provides them that," acknowledged Guiao.
"Tayo, we have to make a decision of whether to double team him or just play him single coverage, because if you collapse, the other Korean players are going to get involved in their offense with their three-point shots."
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