Head coach Yeng Guiao and Gilas Pilipinas have made the most of the almost week-long break to prepare for a do-or-die encounter with South Korea on Monday, in the 18th Asian Games at the Gelora Bung Karno Basketball Hall.
“It’s the big game and we’re ready to play Korea.
“I feel good about this game. My feeling, as I’ve said of this game, it is even. Although I feel we have a good chance against the Koreans,” Guiao said.
The Filipinos had their last practice session on Sunday and according to Guiao, they are ready for what he considers the “big game” against a squad that has mustered Philippine teams in the past.
Their knockout match against the defending Asian Games champions is set at 11:00am at the at the Gelora Bung Karno Basketball Hall. The winner will face either Iran or Japan — which face each other at 1:30 p.m. — in the semifinals.
Guiao conducted a three-hour practice session with his wards — the first hour was a team meeting and viewing of tapes, and the final two hours were spent polishing plays.
“Of course we want to win the game… we want to get to the medal round. We’ve prepared everything and we tried to keep our game plan as simple as we can,” said Guiao, whose team finished with a 1-1 win-loss card to claim the No. 2 spot in Group D behind China’s 2-0.
“But it’s really hard to prepare against a team that has no weakness. We put together a plan that we feel is the best plan we can put together.
“And a lot will now depend on execution. A lot will also depend on the desire and determination of this group to win,” Guiao added.
Led by naturalized player Ricardo Ratliffe, who averaged nearly 24 points with 13 rebounds in the eliminations, Korea finished number 1 in Group A with a perfect 3-0 record.
Besides the 6-foot-10 Ratliffe – who was the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang import in the Philippine Basketball Association last season – Korea also has deadly shooters Lee Jung Hyun, Kim Sunhyung, Heo Ung, Heo Ilyoung and Jeon Junbeom and bigman Kang Sangjae.
As for the Philippines, Guiao of course has National Basketball Association player Jordan Clarkson of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had 28 points, eight rebound and six assists in an 82-80 loss to China in his debut as a national player last Tuesday.
Guiao said he has put premium on running the team’s system so they do not rely heavily on the 6-foot-5 Clarkson.
But Guiao expressed confidence that in tight situations, he knows the Filipino-American can bail them out.
Defense will also be tops on Guiao’s priorities for the game — stop the Korean shooters and prevent their naturalized player from dominating the shade.
“These are the two important things we have to keep in mind on defense. On offense, I’m not worried because I have enough players who can score,” he said.
The Philippines will try to avenge a 95-97 loss to the Koreans back in September 27, 2014 in Incheon.
