Chot Reyes looking forward to tough Gilas games against Tall Blacks, Kiwi club teams Philippine national men’s basketball coach Chot Reyes said New Zealand is an ideal training ground to wind up the team’s preparation for the FIBA Asia Championship. “We all know New Zealand basketball is good kaya natin pinili yan. Ang importante, yung teams doon are in season, kaya they’re in shape,” Reyes told InterAKTV in an exclusive interview. The Tall Blacks are currently No. 18 in the FIBA World Rankings. Only one team competing in the FIBA Asia tournament, 11th-ranked China, is higher on the list. “In Auckland, we’re going to face the national team, the Tall Blacks. Isa pa lang schedule natin sa national team, although sigurado na yun,” said Reyes. The SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national squad will also have a chance to face top club teams playing in the National Basketball League, including the Wellington Saints and the Hawkes Bay Hawks. “Malakas yung Wellington. I think they have four players in the national team. [Rick] Rickert, yung import nila, malaki yun. I think they’re gonna make the finals,” said Reyes. Rickert, a 6-foot-11 NBA veteran, will be a tough matchup for Filipinos frontliners. He has been averaging 20.8 points and 14 rebounds during the season. The Filipinos will also travel to Napier where they will meet the Hawks bannered by import Brian Greene, who’s been averaging close to a double-double. Gilas is scheduled to leave for New Zealand on July 9. -TIMRR9
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 13:22:43 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015