The Philippine national men’s basketball team is widely expected to hammer winless Malaysia in its third assigment in the SEABA Championship on Sunday.
Despite that, Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes reminded his team to not be complacent.
“We have to be disciplined and ready for the tougher games ahead. Looking at Malaysia, it is a tough defending team. They’re very young, but they’re long and athletic. I really like their fight. I really like their spunk. I think we have to come in and be prepared for Malaysia’s style way of defending,” said Reyes.
Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia, who coached the Malaysian Dragons in the ABL, said Team Malaysia is a young team which is eager to send a message to the heavy favorite Filipinos.
“Although it’s a junior team, I’ve seen that team grow, they’re trying to develop this young squad. That will be the squad for the next six years. Yung national team na yan, they’re developing,” he said.
“It’s a 10-year program with the new president. Dalawa lang naging player ko dyan. Yung future yung tinitingnan nila.
“Isa lang naman magka-qualify dito, kaya they’re looking at the long term. They had two close games in the first half of the two games. Siguro against Gilas, they don’t want to lose the way Singapore lost. Medyo rival yan.”
Matthew Wright, who played under Vanguardia in the ABL, also expects Malaysia to put up a fight.
“The entire team is brand new. For what I know, they’re a bunch of young guys,” Wright said.
“But they have a lot to prove. They have nothing to lose and the team is dangerous when you have that mentality. We need to keep trying to impose our will. We have to play Philippine basketball and hopefully come out with a victory and keep on moving.”
