MANILA, Philippines — Walang puwang ang pagiging kampante para sa Gilas Pilipinas sa kabila ng panalo nito laban sa Ivory Coast sa isang tuneup game.
Ayon kay dating national team coach Norman Black, magkaiba ang laban sa tune-up at sa FIBA World Cup proper.
Natalo man ng Gilas Pilipinas ang Ivory Coast, hindi ito dapat magpakampante sa pagharap nito laban sa Angola.
“Angola does have other good players, like they have a very good point guard and a small forward who has won an MVP in their pro league a couple years ago so we can’t take that team for granted,” ani Black sa programang The Game.
Kasama ng Gilas Pilipinas ang Angola sa Group A gayundin ang Dominican Republic at world No. 10 Italy.
Makakasagupa ng Gilas Pilipinas squad ang Angola sa Agosto 27.
Babanderahan ang Angola ni many-time AfroBasket champion at NBA player Bruno Fernando.
“He’s more of an inside player. The way I look at him, he’s face up from the perimeter, 20 feet, quick dribble and go to the basket scorer,” ani Black.
Naglaro si Fernando para sa Houston Rockets at Atlanta Hawks kaya’t malalim ang karanasan nito.
“But it has to be near the basket because he’s not taking an outside shot, though he’s setting screens or setting scorers, so those are his strengths,” dagdag pa ni Black.