TULAD ng inaasahan, naging madali para sa Gilas Pilipinas ang paggapi sa Singapore, 110-58, sa pagsisimula ng men’s basketball competition Miyerkoles ng gabi sa MOA Arena.

Ngunit, sa kabila ng malaking panalo, nakulangan pa rin si coach Tim Cone sa ipinakita ng kanyang all-star team.

“It’s fun coaching such a powerhouse team, no doubt about it, but I don’t think we played our best basketball,” ani Cone.

Para kay Cone, hindi pa sila ganap na nagdyi-jell dahil sa maikling panahon ng kanilang preparasyon kung kaya hindi naging pulido ang takbo ng kanilang laro.

Gayunman, naniniwala syang maaayos din nila ang lahat sa mga susunod nilang laro.

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“We’re a little bit herky-jerky, we weren’t smooth offensively, we had to make adjustments defensively at halftime. But I think honestly, I believe, we’ll get better and better as the games go along. We’ll get more comfortable with each other,” ayon pa kay Cone.

Umaasa rin ang multi-titled coach na magtutuluy-tuloy ang pagiging seryoso ng Gilas sa laro partikular sa kanilang depensa hanggang sa maabot nila ang kanilang misyon na makamit ang gold medal sa larong malapit sa puso ng mga Pinoy.

“I’m hoping we can sustain our defense and improve it as we go along. Guys are locked in on the defensive side. That, as a coach, is what I’m looking for the most,” aniya.

“I know they’re gonna do their thing offensively, but I still want them to focus on the defensive side.”