BATA pa, ngunit matitikman na nina Kai Sotto at Ricci Rivero ang lupit nang laban sa senior division sa kanilang pagsalang bilang bahagi ng Team Philippines Gilas sa tune up game laban sa Jordan sa Lunes sa Meralco Gym sa Pasig City.
Kabilang ang dalawang junior standouts sa 13-men line up na binuo ni National coach Yeng Guiao para maihanda sa fifth window ng 2019 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.
"I guess it's a chance for me to use Kai Sotto and Ricci Rivero. We have about 12 to 13 guys already and what I'm trying to do is to make the most use out of the 13 guys that are here and the most use of our time," pahayag ni Guaio matapos ang ensayo ng koponan nitong Huwebes.
Habang hindi pa nakalalaro ang ilang Gilas member na bahagi ng kasalukuyang 2018 PBA Governors' Cup semifinals, ang 13 players ang isasabak ni Guiao laban sa Jordanian.
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Kasama rin sa koponan sina San Miguel Beermen June Mar Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Arwind Santos, at Christian Standhardinger, gayundin sina Gabe Norwood, Jayson Castro, Matthew Wright, Troy Rosario, Beau Belga, at Poy Erram.
Laban sa Jordan, inaasahan ni Guiao na mabibigyan ng pansin ang depensa at team effort sa rebounds at inside play.
"One of the qualities were looking for is for them to be able to catch on with their high basketball IQ. Wala kaming problema sa conditioning ng mga yan. Alam namin na in shape ang mga yan, pero kailangan lang namin maibalik ang familiarity nila sa sistema playing with the rest of the guys," aniya.
"Also, just yung natural chemistry. You will know right away if guys are going to be able to play with each other in a cohesive manner if they will develop chemistry. Malalaman mo na yun, at least instinctively. With 70 to 80-percent of these guys, I know already kasi na-handle ko na sila. So I'm just looking at the 20 to 30-percent in the next few days."
Sa ikalawang tune-up game sa Miyerkoles, inaasahan ni Guiao na kompleto na ang kanyang 20-man pool.
"Yung sa Wednesday, it depends kasi malamang kumpleto na kami ng Monday morning, although it's a shootaround and light practice," pahayag ni Guiao.
"But most of those who are absent have played already under me. Greg (Slaughter), although when he wasn't playing last window, he was always in practice even when he was injured. So si LA (Tenorio) na lang ang medyo unfamiliar. Siguro there will be two guys that will try to catch up, but the rest of the guys, I know will be able to catch on in the next few days."
Nakatakdang harapin ng Team Philippines-Gilas ang Kazakhstan sa November 30 at Iran sa Disyembre 3 sa MOA Arena.
