Gabe Norwood had already sent a warning on the eve of Gilas Pilipinas’ showdown against Kazakhstan.
“It could be an advantage. But at the same time, it’s the same thing with the twelve that they are sending.
“At the end of the day, if they send the same team, that’s twelve guys who have experience against us also,” the national team’s skipper said about facing almost the same Kazakhstan team from 106 days ago during the Asian Games in Jakarta.
In Gilas’ opener in the Asiad, the nationals completely had their way against Kazakhstan, taking a 96-59 victory.
This time around, many expected that the hosts would do the same.
Gilas had homecourt advantage. Kazakhstan – which is in the midst of a four-game losing streak in the Qualifiers – was sending a team that had nine holdovers from that squad. And moreover, the Philippine-side was dubbed as the ‘best-ever’ pool assembled.
But it did not show. Gilas played catch up for the majority of the game – 25 minutes and 22 seconds to be exact. And in the end game, the team full of stars decided to rely on Stanley Pringle.
Ultimately, it ended in an 88-92 loss.
And Beau Belga could not help but compare the lack of familiarity between the players in this squad compared to the Asiad’s.
“Yun yung kaibahan noong Asian kasi. Halos eighty-percent ng lineup ni coach Yeng [Guiao], alam yung sistema niya,” Belga rued, as all but four players from the 12-man team sent to Jakarta have played for Guiao before. “Kahit na sabihin mong hindi mga superstar yung mga yun, alam nila. Kumbaga kahit nakapikit ka, alam nila kung saan sila pupunta diba?
“Tapos dito, parang pinagsama-sama mo kami eh kami lang ni Gabe [Norwood] ang nakakaalam plus Arwind [Santos], kami lang yung talagang nakakaalam noong sistema.”
Still, both Belga and Norwood are remaining patient with this group, taking the role as team leaders. And they are needed now more than ever, as Gilas can’t afford to lose any of their remaining three games in the Qualifiers.
“A lot of fight, a lot of heart, and we’re gonna leave it all out there on the floor,” vowed Norwood.
