Chot tempers expectations

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas program director and head coach Chot Reyes promised a fighting team even as he tempers expectations for his youth-laden squad in the FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia.

Reyes has tapped a cast of mostly collegiate stars and fresh graduates with Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Ray Parks and TNT’s Poy Erram as reinforcements for the July 12 to 24 meet, which, he underscored, is part of the overall program for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

“We just want to manage everyone’s expectations. We’re going to try our best to get to the top eight in the FIBA Asia,” he said.

“But the objective really is to take a look at the players that we have on this team and see and look at their continued development and continue our process of finding out what it is going to take to make sure that we have the best team for 2023.”

The youngsters previously carried the fight for the country in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, losing to New Zealand, 106-60, and beating India, 79-63.

They will have another go at their old tormentor New Zealand as well as India in Group D of the Asia Cup preliminaries with highly-touted Lebanon as the other tough competitor in the bunch.

“There’s a huge, huge task ahead of us. We’re in a very tough group,” said Reyes.

Meanwhile, China secured a bronze medal in the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup in Singapore with a 20-18 win over Gilas Pilipinas.

“This is the Philippines’ best ever finish in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup and a clear sign that the partnership with the PBA is working out well,” said the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

Australia sealed a three-peat with a 21-17 victory over New Zeraland.