Angola demonstrated their resilience against basketball powerhouse Italy, giving them a challenging contest before faltering towards the end in their clash during the opening of the FIBA World Cup on Friday.
This is precisely why Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes emphasizes the importance of not underestimating the Angolan team, despite their ranking being just one place lower than the Philippines at 40th.
Gametime is set at 8 p.m. today Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
“Angola possesses considerable strength,” Reyes remarked as he observed the national team’s practice at the Philsports Arena on Saturday. “I’ve always held the belief that Angola constitutes a team of high caliber and quality.”
“We’re not dismissing their potential in any way. Our preparation is thorough and unwavering.”
One of Reyes’ focal points is Angola’s NBA player, Bruno Fernando, who managed to contribute 13 points, in addition to five rebounds, four steals, and two assists against the Italians. Another noteworthy player is Childe Dundao, who emerged as the top scorer for Angola with 19 points, including four successful three-point shots.
“We need to ensure our ability to guard these players effectively, particularly Childe, who possesses notable speed,” Reyes noted.
Furthermore, he stressed the necessity of countering Angola’s aggressive defensive tactics.
“We’ve implemented offensive strategies to effectively respond to that,” Reyes added. (ai/mnm)
