For Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao, Gilas Pilipinas need a miracle if it really wants to take down world powerhouses Italy and Serbia in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
But Guiao is one optimistic fellow.
“Against Italy and Serbia, it will almost take a miracle to beat these teams, but the good thing is I believe in miracles,” said Guiao after his NLEX beat Blackwater 120-101 in PBA action.
“But kailangan mo rin maghanda para mangyari yung milagro.”
Guiao asserted that his sights are not just on Italy and Serbia, however, cautioning that the Angolans will also be another tough team to deal with. After all, Angola is the top team of FIBA Africa.
But Guiao likes his chances versus the African squad.
“Angola is another tough team. As soon as I knew who our groupmates were, ni-research ko na. Angola is a strong team but I think yun lang realistically na puwedeng ma-upset siguro,” he said.
“Pero it’s gonna be a hard game. Makikipag-basagan tayo ng itlog dun para manalo lang.”
The Worlds will commence on August 31, and Gilas will have a tall order right away as they will face Italy. Though daunting, Guiao likes it, as it will make his players work right from the get-go.
“I think that’s also good for us… It just means to say pagka nakalaban mo yung Italy you have to bring everything you have. By that time we should be ready to play one hundred percent,” he declared.
“There’s no such thing as getting warmed up. We have to be ready for that, for August 31.”
