MANILA, Philippines - Kaagad napabilib ng Gilas Pilipinas sa kanilang unang araw ng paghahanda para sa darating na FIBA Asia Cup si British coach at dating Thailand mentor Tim Lewis.
Natulala din siya sa up-tempo game ng Nationals.
“It’s impressive. It’s a well-oiled machine. It’s a really good job done by your guys,” wika ni Lewis sa koponang kulang sa laki at tangkad.
Sa imbitasyon ni Team Phl assistant coach Josh Reyes ay nagtungo si Lewis sa Team Gilas’ first practice para sa FIBA Asia Cup na magsisimula sa susunod na buwan.
Katulong ngayon si Lewis, dating NBA D-League assistant coach at head coach ng Thailand national team, sa coaching staff ng TNT KaTropa Texters.
Dahil narito na sa bansa si Lewis, minabuti ng Gilas coaching staff na makakuha ng kaalaman mula sa British coach.
“Since he asked if he could come to practice. We said sure on the condition that there are some stuff that we want to also put into our defense,” sabi ni coach Chot Reyes.
Pinagbigyan naman siya ni Lewis.
“Just some different defensive concepts and things like that,” wika ni Lewis. “Then coach will take it away and then decide whether or not that’s what he wants to do – or you know, he wants to do something slightly different.”
Ilang beses na niyang nakaharap ang Gilas sa mga SEABA meets, kasama ang katatapos lang na SEABA Championship kung saan niya iginiya ang Thailand sa third-place finish sa likod ng Philippines at Indonesia.