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[av_heading heading=’ Gilas faces FIBA, SEAG schedule overlap ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas will have a major dilemma heading into the twin international tournaments next month – the FIBA Asia finale overlaps with the start of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
This is the first time Gilas is facing this problem. Before, FIBA Asia and SEA Games were months apart, Head Coach Chot Reyes said.
Carl Bryan Cruz and Christian Standhardinger are playing for both FIBA Asia and SEA Games, said Reyes.
“If we will go all the way to the semifinals in FIBA Asia, which means we will play until Aug. 20, both Carl and Christian will be out when SEA Games starts, and we will have Thailand as our opening game,” he said.
But with the new SEA Games format, where there are semifinals and finals matches, it may not be hurtful for Gilas if it drops its match against Thailand, Reyes said.
“The good thing in the SEA Games format is we could afford to lose a game,” he said. “Not that we are planning to (lose to Thailand) but we can afford (to do so) and get back at them in the semifinals or the finals.”
“Going to a war na hindi kami kumpleto” is the tough part in FIBA Asia, he added. “The cadets are going to be very important so we can get enough bodies in practice.”
While it is heavily favored to become a repeat SEA Games champ, Gilas will aim to do better than its runner-up finish two years ago in FIBA Asia./PN
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