THE absence of Justin Brownlee and Kai Sotto will surely be felt by Gilas Pilipinas in their bid to capture another gold in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
This was the assessment of former national team coach and current Rain or Shine mentor Yeng Guiao.
Guiao said it was unfortunate Brownlee would not be playing due to multiple injuries he sustained during his stint with Gilas in FIBA competitions and Barangay Ginebra in the PBA.
Sotto is also unavailable after he was unable to secure an opportunity to play in the U.S. NCAA following his stint in the fourth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian qualifiers.
“‘Ang tingin ko, ‘yung dalawang players na ‘yun ang pinakasusi ng success natin,” Guiao told SPIN.ph.
“Kahit doon sa window, ang laking bagay ni Kai. Wala ‘yung dalawang ‘yun na tingin natin eh crucial ang kanilang absence.”
But even without Brownlee and Sotto, Guiao remains confident that the Philippines will still be competitive enough for a medal - and even successfully defend the title in the continental meet.
“It’s now time for the rest of the team to find ways to be able to compete,” said Guiao, who coached the Filipino representatives reinforced by Jordan Clarkson during the 2018 Asiad in Jakarta.
“‘Yung expectation natin (fans), hindi ganun kataas. Tingin ko, mas maganda ‘yun na ‘yung pressure, hindi masyado nilang mararamdaman. They just play their best, they just do what they can. Pero tingin ko, magpe-perform pa rin ‘yung national team natin.”
An all-PBA team will begin their Asian Games campaign on Friday when they face Bahrain.
Tuneup games just tuneup games
Guiao also said Gilas' two lopsided losses to Korea in tuneup games last week shouldn't be the true gauge of the quality of the lineup.
“At the end of the day, it will work out for them. Makukuha rin nila ‘yan. Masyado maikli ‘yung oras na nagsama sila para maging cohesive talaga na 100-percent ‘yung team. It will always take time at ‘yung oras nila, hindi sapat para makuha nila ‘yung optimum effectivity nila," he said.
“Pero itong mga nakaraang araw, I’m sure, 'pag alam mong malapit na, kumbaga nahihinog din ‘yan, nahihinog sa pilit kumbaga. Kapag nandiyan na, kailangan na, makikita natin na mag-i-improve naman ‘yung performance nila as a team.”
READ: Yeng Guiao bats for Adrian Nocum making 'main' Gilas roster
With the national team leaning on speed, as always, Guiao said coach Tim Cone's lineup has the pieces to run a faster style of play, including the Elasto Painters' very own Adrian Nocum.
“Siyempre ako, as a coach, naka-focus ako doon sa laro niya (Nocum). Very decent naman ‘yung performance niya as a first timer in the national team and then playing a top-notch team like Korea," he said.
"Alam naman natin na may bago silang play style. They are trying to be quicker, mas mabilis na pace. Actually, ‘yun ang laro talaga ni Adrian. Mas sanay siya sa ganun.”
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