JAKARTA --Ilang beses nang pinatikman ng mga Koreano ang Pilipinas ng masakit na kabiguan na ‘di malilimutan ng Pinoy basketball fans.
Dalawang beses sinibak ng Koreans ang Pinoys--noong 1998 at 2002 quadrennial meet para sa gold medal contention.
Haharapin ngayon ng “Gilastopainters” ang Korea sa alas-10 a.m. (11 a.m. Manila) na layuning ibaon sa limot ang lahat ng pasakit ng mga Koreano.
Magiging pangunahing sandata ni national coach Yeng Guiao ang Fil-Am Cleveland Cavalier player na si Jordan Clarkson at ang matinding motibasyon ng koponan.
“This time, I have a good feeling that with Jordan Clarkson and of course the way the players are playing, the way they develop and their cohesion, I think things are even this time going to the game against Korea,” pahayag ni Guiao na pormal nang naitalagang coach ng Gilas Pilipinas kapalit ni Chot Ryes sa World Cup qualifiers. “The players are really motivated. We will prepare as hard as we can, and we’ll play as hard as we can just like we did in our game against China.”
Pinatunayan ng Pinas na kaya nilang makipagsabayan nang pinahirapan nila ang China na pinalakas nina NBA players Zhou Qi at Ding Yanyuhang bago isuko ang 80-82 kabiguan kung saan umiskor si Clarkson ng 28-puntos.
Bagama’t dumating sa Jakarta at umabot si Clarkson sa unang laro ng Gilas kontra sa Kazakhstan ay hindi na siya isinalang gayunpaman ay nagtala ang Gilas ng impresibong 96-59 panalo.
“In our game against China, we were not as efficient,” ani Guiao.“It was actually Jordan’s first game after the NBA Finals with the Cavs. So we’re expecting a little bit more efficiency with the Korea game.”
Kasama ng Korea ang dating import ng Magnolia sa PBA na si Ricardo Ratliffe bilang naturalized player na nag-average ng 23-points at 13 rebounds para pamunuan ang kanilang three-game sweep sa Pool A sa preliminaries.