A YEAR away from its FIBA World Cup campaign at home, Gilas Pilipinas began its buildup with an 88-64 drubbing of India at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
PBA stars Roger Pogoy and Robert Bolick were among those who tossed in double-digit outputs as Gilas cruised past the Indians, ahead of an expected uphill battle against New Zealand Sunday.
Pogoy fired 12 points, Bolick rifled in 10 while Dwight Ramos and Thirdy Ravena scored 17 and 15, respectively, leading Gilas to a triumphant return to action after a long layoff.
The Nationals actually got off to a shaky start but slowly picked up their game to fashion out the dominant to mark Chot Reyes’ return on Gilas’ saddle.
Reyes also fielded Troy Rosario, Poy Erram, Kelly Williams, Kib Montalbo, Juan Gomez De Liano, William Navarro, Ange Kouame and Tzaddy Rangel in their initial outing in Group A of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Likely to debut against New Zealand are Gab Banal, Jaydee Tungcab and Lebron Lopez.
It will be a yearlong grind for the World Cup-bound Gilas team. Their buildup will include more games in the World Cup qualifiers, in the FIBA Asia Cup, Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games.
“We’re preparing as best as we can,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio, also a PBA board member representing the Meralco Bolts team.
“The plan is to push the program. We’re obviously looking at the World Cup but we’re also creating a pipeline for the future beyond the World Cup,” he added.
Reyes couldn’t complain with the kind of game they played with a short preparation.
They struggled with 17 turnovers and just a 30-percent clip from the arc, but dominated just the same with their energy and intensity.
They outrebounded the taller Indians, 47-39, and, with their pressing defense, gave their rivals a hard time setting up their patterns.
Gilas outscored India in each quarter, taking the first period at 18-13, the half at 44-32, the end of the third at 68-47. (SB)
