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Gilas, Jordan engage in physical friendly

Chris Standhardinger dealt with Mohammad Hussein and Zaid Abbas inside the shaded lane before putting up 21 points in a losing effort for Gilas. Nikki Collantes

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG--It may just be a tune-up friendly.

But the Monday night showdown between Gilas Pilipinas and Jordan seemed as if it is the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers already.

Both sides played 40 minutes of physical basketball that even saw Poy Erram and Mohammad Hussein getting into a heated discussion after the former's foul.

For both teams's coaches, they needed it.

“Nakita naman natin halos nagkaka-pikunan na, and that’s very close to what will happen in the games themselves. So even mentally, we’re able to exercise controlling our emotions, and you’re able to condition your mind to taking on that kind of physicality that you’ll face against Kazakhstan and Iran,” said Gilas mentor Yeng Guiao.

"That's what you look for. That's what I'm trying to tell our guys," quipped Jordan coach Joseph Steibing.

If "Round 1" is to be used as a barometer, a more physical encounter is expected come "Round 2" on Wednesday night especially that Guiao is expected to field in a bigger lineup with Ginebra bigs Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar joining the fray.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno