Gilas braces for Nikola Vucevic, Montenegro in tuneup

After successful in opposition to Cote d’Ivoire in a closed-door tuneup match on Friday, Gilas Pilipinas will subsequent face the Montenegro basketball staff on Sunday, and head coach Chot Reyes mentioned it is going to be a more difficult job.

For Reyes, having Chicago Bulls participant Nikola Vucevic on the lineup provides to the problem of taking part in in opposition to the European squad.

“Oh, Montenegro, that’s a very different team, mas malakas ‘yan, European style, [Nikola] Vucevic is there, a bonafide NBA starter for his team, and some others,” Reyes mentioned after their 85-62 win in opposition to Cote d’Ivoire.

“D’yan, mapapalaban talaga tayo. But we’ll see. We’re looking to play better in the Montenegro game than we did today,” the Gilas coach added.

(Oh, Montenegro, that is a really completely different staff. They’re stronger, taking part in European type. Vucevic is there, a bonafide NBA starter for his staff and a few others. That shall be difficult. We’ll see. We’re seeking to play higher within the Montenegro recreation than we did at this time.)

Reyes praised Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto, who performed their first pleasant with the remainder of the staff.

“Well, makikita mo na di pa siya 100 percent, pero he really makes a difference,” Reyes mentioned about Sotto.

“Nakakatulong talaga siya. He adds much needed depth to the team. Hopefully his back holds up. We have two more games before opening night.”

(You can see he isn’t but one hundred pc however he actually makes a distinction. He is mostly a huge assist. )

The Gilas coach additionally mentioned Clarkson performed for majority of the primary half because the latter wanted to get the groove of the sport.

“Pinag-usapan talaga namin ‘yon, he’ll play the whole first half kasi kailangan niyang makuha yung kanyang game wind. And then he starts sa third, and if kailangan siya sa fourth, babalik siya. E di na kinailangan so okay na yon, pahinga, prepare na lang for the next game,” said Reyes.

(We talked about playing him the whole first half so he could get his game wind. He would also start in the third, and if we need him in the fourth period, he would play. But we’re good so we let him rest and prepare for the next game.)

Clarkson had 13 points while Sotto chipped in 10 points during the said tuneup match.

Dejan Prokic, the Slovenian head coach of Cote d’Ivoire, also praised Clarkson and Gilas.

“Philippines is a very good team, Clarkson is an exceptional player,” Prokic mentioned.

“They have an excellent coach, they used what they’ve, they’re fairly larger than us and at this time they used it loads. So I believe Angola shouldn’t be a query,” he added.

Prokic was referring to the match of the Philippines in opposition to Angola slated for August 27 on the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Gilas Pilipinas will open their marketing campaign on August 25 in opposition to the Dominican Republic on the Philippine Arena, and also will play Italy on the Big Dome on August 29.

Cote d’Ivoire, in the meantime, may have their group stage matches in Indonesia.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News