No problem with having new players » Manila Bulletin Sports

Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao, center, gives instructions to members of the Gilas Pilipinas pool on the first day of practice Monday evening at the Meralco gym in Quezon City. (photo by Brian Yalung)

by Waylon Galvez

Even with new players coming in, Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao believes chemistry will not be an issue for the 20-man national training pool as preparation for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers started Monday night at the Meralco gym in Quezon City.

“It’s still very early… but I don’t think I’ll be having problems in terms of chemistry and cohesion. The players left from the fourth window and the Asian Games are still there, and the new guys coming in are very absorptive of the plays. They’re very quick to make the adjustments,” Guiao said.

“I know they’re coming from different systems and different styles, but the system (we have) is very simple anyway. So they can adjust easily even on our first day.”

A total of 12 players showed up on the first day of practice which lasted almost two hours.

Present on the first day were San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos, Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine, TNT’s Jayson Castro and Troy Rosario, Poy Erram of Blackwater and Matthew Wright of Phoenix Fuel.

Gilas cadets Kai Sotto and Ricci Rivero also attended the training session.

“I feel blessed to be part of the training pool,” said the 16-year-old Sotto, the 7-footer who is on his first stint with the men’s pool. “I know I’ll learn many things from coach Yeng and the PBA players.”

Gilas Pilipinas Timeline

FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

• Nov. 14 and 16 – Team practice (8 p.m./Meralco gym)
• Nov. 19 and 21 – Scrimmage with Jordan (8 p.m./Meralco gym)
• After PBA semifinals, Gilas PH starts daily 8 p.m. practice @ Meralco gym
• Nov. 23 and 25 – Scrimmage with Lebanon (8 p.m./Meralco gym)
• Nov. 30 – PH vs Kazakhstan (7:30 p.m./Mall of Asia Arena)
• Dec. 3 – PH vs Iran (7:30 p.m./Mall of Asia)

Tags: Arwind Santos, Asian Games, FIBA World Cup qualifiers, Jayson Castro, June Mar Fajardo, Kai Sotto, Marcio Lassiter, Matthew Wright, PBA, Poy Erram, San Miguel Beer, Troy Rosario