CHRIS Gavina thought the tune-up game between Gilas Pilipinas and the Taiwan Mustangs benefited both sides.
Gavina, one-time coach of Rain or Shine in the PBA and now working in Taiwan as coach of one of its professional teams, called the shots for the Mustangs against Gilas and concluded that the game was a learning experience that will help the teams moving forward.
He said his team gave the Nationals a worthy workout as they prepare for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia. On his side, Gavina assessed the Mustangs learned something as well in the 74-64 loss on Monday night at the Philsports Arena.
“Our main goal as a team was to compete against Gilas to the best of our abilities and help them in their preparations for their upcoming OQT Games,” he said. “Nonetheless, for me it was a win for our Taiwan Mustangs team no matter the outcome.”
The Mustangs - featuring 7-foot-6 center Sam Deguara – dominated the boards, 52-39, and had a better free throw shooting percentage (16-of-29 for 55 percent), but Gilas controlled the other facets of the game.
The Filipinos had more assists, 25-12, committed less turnovers, 12-21, had more steals, 15-7, scored more points from turnovers, 26-11, got more fastbreak points, 15-5, as well as points from the bench, 23-17.
Cohesive Gilas
The numbers according to Gavina, are proof of how talented and cohesive this batch of Gilas has become under the watch of coach Tim Cone.
It’s certainly an experience where the Mustangs learned a lot, added Gavina.
“It was evident last night that when you play against a team with so much depth and talent, your margin of error becomes very small,” said Gavina.
“In that regard, the game revealed facets of our game we need to polish up like our decision-making on transition, and improving our ability to get our big man post entry passes without turning the ball over.”
The Mustangs never led during the game and trailed by as many as 17, 58-41, late in the third period.
“I just stressed to my team how playing against a team of Gilas' caliber will just make us more confident and help us get more fine-tuned as we prepare for our upcoming China leg for The Asian Tournament,” said Gavina.
The fourth leg of The Asian Tournament will see the Mustangs parading former NBA players DeMarcus Cousins, Quinn Cook, and Dwight Howard. All three did not play against Gilas.
In hindsight, Gavina said the Mustangs gave a good account of themselves against a Gilas team that will be battling world-ranked countries in the OQT by next week.
“And considering the Chinese Taipei national team was destroyed by Gilas by 53, I think we held our own for the most part,” said the Mustangs coach, noting how the Philippines beat Chinese Taipei, 106-53, during the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers last February at the Philsports Arena.
“Overall, I felt we gave a great representation of Taiwan Mustangs basketball.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
