Gilas Pilipinas’ 11th practice for the 2019 FIBA World Cup saw a disappointing number of just nine players suiting up.
But starting on July 29, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao will have the luxury of five practices a week.
“Next week, we’ll practice every day. Six to eight o’ clock na tayo Monday up to Friday next week,” said Guiao.
Players of teams still alive in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs will be excused from the sessions.
Meanwhile, Blatche will begin training with NLEX starting tomorrow while having twice-a-day practices starting next week.
Guiao, himself a PBA head coach, shared that he cannot blame the players for their absence in Monday’s session, since the majority of the pool players are still in the midst of the quarterfinals.
Out of the 19 pool members, only Gabe Norwood, Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, Beau Belga, JP Erram, Matthew Wright, Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, and Andray Blatche participated, while June Mar Fajardo sat out the session.
“I can’t blame them. I know they have responsibilities with their mother clubs. Mabuti si June Mar nandito, yung iba kahit may laro bukas, practice pa rin,” expressed Guiao. “Mahirap talagang maghati ng attention especially at this crucial stage.
“We’ll just have to manage whatever opportunities we have.”
With just 40 days left before the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Guiao believes that the team is just at 40 to 50-percent of its full potential. Before they leave for Spain on August 4, he expects the team to be at 80-percent.
“Before we leave for Spain on August, we should be able to more or less be 70 to 80 percent. Yung 20 to 30 perfect, kailangan habulin na namin pagsampa ng August.”
