THE national men’s basketball team intensified preparations with twice-a-day practice sessions on Tuesday and Monday for the games against Lebanon and Jordan in the sixth and last window of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
“We need to fast track everything especially that our players from Japan have just arrived last week, and it’s just a matter of days [before the games],” national team deputy coach Jong Uichico told BusinessMirror on Monday. “It’s their first time to practice with the local-based players here.”
Gilas Pilipinas faces Lebanon at 6 p.m. on Friday and Jordan also 6 p.m. on Monday both at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The Philippines is 5-3 won-lost in Group E behind Lebanon (7-1) and New Zealand (6-2) but is already qualified along with Japan (5-5 Group F) in the August 25-September 10 FIBA World Cup as co-hosts.
Japan B.League players Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Jordan Heading and Bobby Ray Parks Jr. joined practice only last Thursday at the Meralco Gym, according to Uichico.
They again practised Monday with almost a full team led by naturalized player Justin Brownlee, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Scottie Thompson, June Mar Fajardo, Kelly Williams, Raymond Almazan, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Arvin Tolentino, Kevin Quiambao, Francis Lopez, Mason Amos, Dechon Winston and Jerom Lastimosa.
Head coach Chot Reyes is expected to name his 12 players on Thursday.
“We have to be faster and more accurate, to be more efficient than Lebanon and Jordan to have a better chance of winning,” San Miguel Beer’s Perez said in a separate interview. “I’m hoping to be selected.”
Japeth Aguilar (knee) and naturalized center Ange Kouame (knee) are down with injuries while 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto is unavailable because of his commitments overseas.