THE GILAS Pilipinas remain on track in its preparations for the Fiba Asia Men’s Championship as the Nationals won over the Hawke’s Bay Hawks, 73-70, for its second victory in as many games in this tune-up stint that is part of the team’s ongoing training camp in New Zealand.
In spite of the cold weather at the Pettigrew Green Arena in Napier, the Gilas contended with the physically imposing Hawks to notch its second win in six scheduled games in this particular camp leading to the Asian tilt on Aug. 1 to 11 in Manila.
According to head coach Chot Reyes, his squad was learning to cope with the physicality of the game in what he termed to be the “Kiwi game.”
“Struggled from the outside today, but found a way to eke out a 73-70 win in a defensively intense game. We’re learning from the physical Kiwi game,” Reyes tweeted.
The Gilas started its exhibition series with an 82-78 win over the Hawks last Friday and will be gunning for a third straight win today when it battles the best of the National Basketball League.
After that, the Nationals take on the Wellington Saints, the Auckland Rangers and finally, the Tall Blacks, New Zealand’s national squad. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio