(And now that the end is near, Gilas must beat italy by 13 points and hope that Angola loses.)
The sad and uncomplimentary performance of Gilas in the on-going FIBA WC will linger longer than the traumatic scars of the pandemic COVID 19.
That’s because the painful lessons of the past that should have been avoided were repeated by those at the basketball helm.
Did Chot Reyes see Kai Sotto more as a laibility than an asset after fielding the 7’3” center just 73 seconds versus the Dominicans?
How did Reyes come up with that decision just because Sotto committed two quick fouls early in the ballgame?
Gilas needed the tall presence of Sotto to intimidate penetrators and low post plays of Towns and company.
Why did Reyes not rotate Sotto, Fajardo, Aguilar and Edu in the 4 and 5 positions to allow Clarkson, Ramos, Thompson and Pogoy enough window to shoot from the perimeter and beyond the arc?
Ravena, CJ Perez and Rhenz Abando were also inefficently utilized.
Where was the running game that Reyes proudly bandied about?
Why did not Gilas use a zone defense with Sotto in the middle?
Where was the teamwork and chemistry?
Only Clarkson was clearly leading the way but after he fouled out (against DR), Gilas was groping and got waylaid in the process.
Reyes choked in the fourth period where he was effectively out-coached by the Dominican mentor and the Angolan bench strategist.
Gilas’ oponents knew that harassing Clarkson with a crowding double team prevented the Utah Jazz superstar from ably distributing the ball to an open teammate.
Reyes was predictable. Can’t blame him.
He’s not a chess grandmaster.
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Anyway, enjoy this bit of good news.
Slowly but surely, Pinoy polevaulter Ernest John Obiena is patiently inching his way up in his quest for appropriate global recognition.
The 27-year old Tondo boy snatched the silver medal in the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest, Hungary Sunday.
Of course, much as he desired upending perennial winner and archrival Armand Duplantis, he could not and happily settled for runner up honors.
EJ cleared the bar at 6.0m in his second attempt to better his 5.94m bronze performance last year in Eugene, Oregon.
Swede Duplantis cleared 6.10 to clinch the gold outright and attempted 6:23m to smash his world 6.22m record but couldn’t do it in three tries.
Australia’s Kurtis Marschall and current world number 2 Christopher Nilsen from the USA shared the bronze as both cleared 5.95m..
Both tried the 6.0m mark but thrice failed. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
