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Gilas hoping allotted training period already enough

Gilas will still practice three more times this week before flying to Qatar. Rick Johnsen Dela Cruz
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA—Coach Yeng Guiao said Gilas Pilipinas is hopeful that it already got enough time at home to prepare for the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

“We’re hoping na sapat na yung oras na ginamit namin para sa preparasyon,” Guiao said after the national team’s Monday night training at the Meralco Gym in Pasig.

Only 10 players took part in practice, but according to Guiao, it bore a positive result.

“We had a good practice,” the Team Pilipinas coach continued.

In fact, the national coach saw that the Gilas pool is already ecstatic about its upcoming games at Qatar and Kazakhstan.

“Everybody is getting excited kasi malapit na yung next window,” Guiao further said.

But on a personal note, the fiery mentor added, “Ako, medyo nabibitin pa.”

However, he quipped that he will instill the other facets of his system when Gilas arrives in Doha.

“Pagdating naman namin sa Qatar, we will practice twice a day,” Guiao bared.

Andray Blatche, who left for Tianjin earlier Monday for his Chinese Basketball Association stint, will rejoin the Nationals in Doha.

For the rest of Gilas practice this week in Pasig, Guiao said, “We’ll still practice tomorrow. We take Wednesday off. Then on Thursday and Friday, we’ll practice in the morning.”

Gilas is set to fly for Doha on Saturday.

Gilas needs to beat Qatar and Kazakhstan on the road in the final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers to earn a better chance of making the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno