Just four years ago, Serbia and the Philippines clashed in the 2019 edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup held in China.
During that time, Sasha Djordjevic led the Eagles, while Gilas was under the guidance of Yeng Guiao.
The encounter was nothing short of a bloodbath.
The Serbians exhibited sheer dominance from the opening tip until the final whistle, amassing a staggering 59-point lead before ultimately settling for a 126-67 triumph.
Addressing the game’s outcome, Djordjevic shared, “I think you showed some balance and quickness but obviously you’re missing quality and these two games are the result of that.”
This comment came after Gilas also experienced a disheartening 108-62 defeat to Italy to commence their campaign.
“Two European top teams who know how to play tough, physical basketball. These are results to think about in the future.”
Djordjevic even accused Paul Lee of being a ‘dirty player.’
Fast-forward to the present day, both Djordjevic and Guiao find themselves without coaching positions.
Interestingly, Djordjevic managed to carve a path to Asia and now leads China’s Dragons.
It’s reasonable to assume that he’s been closely monitoring Gilas, considering they could potentially be China’s rival for the single Asia slot at the forthcoming Paris Olympics.
This time, however, Djordjevic expresses approval for the strides taken by the Philippine basketball program under Chot Reyes.
“They’ve assembled an athletic team and added size,” he remarked.
“Their rotations involving bigs and, coupled with (Jordan) Clarkson, they possess the necessary ball-handling talent that can untangle any situation or overcome tight games,” Djordjevic commented, taking note of the inclusion of Kai Sotto and AJ Edu to complement the likes of Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo.
Despite the criticism he faced for his remarks four years ago, Djordjevic has encountered the warm embrace of Filipino hospitality. He remains appreciative of this gesture.
Indeed, time has a way of mending wounds.
