NI: Marivic Awitan

KUNG may bisa ang hiling, nais sana ni Southeast Asian Games bound Gilas Pilipinas coach Jong Uichico na sa huling bahagi na ng torneo nila makasagupa ang mabibigat na kalaban.

“I’d rather not,” pahayag ni Uichico patungkol sa nakatakdang pagsalang ng Filipino dribblers sa Kuala Lumpur biennial meet laban sa matikas na Thailand sa kanilang opening match sa Linggo (Agosto 20).

“You’d rather progress as the tournament goes on. But that’s the draw,” ayon pa kay Uichico sa send-off ng koponan na idinaos sa EDSA Shangri-la sa Mandaluyong City.

Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!

Nalagay ang Cadets sa parehas na sitwasyon ng kanilang senior counterparts sa FIBA Asia Cup 2017, kung saan nakaharap ng mga ito sa unang laban ang China..

At naniniwala naman si Uichico na kakayanin ng kanyang koponan na duplikahin ang nagawa ng Gilas na paggapi sa China sa pagsabak nila kontra Thailand.

“That’s the draw. The FIBA Asia had the same draw — they (seniors) played China right away but they were able to win and we’re in the next round. We can do it din naman,” ani Uichico.

Gayunman, ayon kay Uichico, hangad niyang makapagpakita ng consistency sa kanilang laro mula umpisa hanggang matapos.

“It’s hard to make it a habit that we can start out bad in the first quarter as long as we finish strong. There might not be a strong finish if we don’t start out well,” ani Uichico.“We’re not really a hundred percent, but hopefully in the next two days we can get there in time for Sunday’s game.”

“Kailangan, whether one hundred or eighty percent or whatever, we have to be ready to play Thailand,” aniya.

Nakatakdang umalis ang Gilas Cadets ngayong araw patungong Malaysia.