Baldwin assists Chot to prepare Gilas for World Cup

Watch the highlights of the second day of their US Training Camp produced by Kuwentong Gilas' executive producer Michael Villar below: 

MANILA, Philippines -- Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes is getting a lot of valuable help from former New Zealand national team coach Tab Baldwin in their US training camp in Miami, Florida. 

Baldwin, who led New Zealand to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, has impressed on Gilas that quickness will be their biggest weapon given their size disadvantage. 

"Going into the World Cup, going into this level, we're going to have rules, we're going to have principles but the same strengths that we have as a team which is speed and quickness, we have to make those strengths at the defensive end as well. Because you're going to be outsized, out-experienced and there's a lot skilled teams from our pool," Baldwin told the team in Day 2 of their training camp.

Baldwin, whose wealth of experience as an international coach to various national teams (Lebanon and Jordan included) came in handy during Gilas' silver medal run in the FIBA Asia Men's Championship last year. This time, the 56-year old American coach wants Gilas to be sharper and quicker come the World Cup joust in Spain late next month. 

Read also: Blatche joins Gilas practice; players unlearn PBA habits

Reyes, meanwhile, wanted the national players to leave their PBA style of play out of their minds for the meantime. 

"The big difference is that in the PBA, we need to be strong and physical because of all the grappling, and handling, and that's taking away our quickness and can't move.  In the FIBA [World Cup], we have to be more relax and quicker and stay in front [of our opponents]," Reyes said.  

"We got to unlearn what we're doing in the PBA, we have one month to pick it up. Every practice counts," said Reyes, the only five-time PBA coach of the year awardee.

The national team focused on defensive drills particularly on switching  to avoid mismatches especially against taller backcourts which they will face in Group B that includes third-ranked Argentina, fifth-ranked Greece, Croatia, Puerto Rico and Senegal. 

Check out more photos and behind the scenes of their US Training Camp collected by Philstar.com from the Gilas players and staff below: