ALLAN THE MAN

With two international training trips under its belt, the Philippine national men’s basketball team is confident heading into the FIBA Asia Championship on August 1.

“I think we made a lot of positive steps and we are closer to being ready today than we were a month ago,” said Rain or Shine forward Gabe Norwood, a veteran international campaigner who also represented the Philippines in 2007 and 2009.

“The camps in Lithuania and New Zealand were similar — Coach K (Kestutis Kemzura) and Coach Tab (Baldwin) in New Zealand both helped us a lot and tested our ability to learn on the fly. I think that will be needed in the upcoming tournament.”

Star point guard LA Tenorio, who will be making his FIBA Asia Championship debut after leading the Philippines to the Jones Cup crown last year, said the recent New Zealand tour against club teams and the Tall Blacks helped round out the squad’s preparations.

“We polished our defensive schemes. Madami na naman kaming weapons defensively na definitely makakatulong sa amin sa team,” wrote Tenorio in a text message.

“Individually, maganda naging experience rin namin, kasi malalakas and very physical yung mga kalaban naming sa New Zealand. Malaking tulong ito sa amin dahil expected naming ganoon din gagawin ng mga kalaban sa FIBA Asia.”

Team manager Butch Antonio noted the progress of the team between the two camps.

“The New Zealand camp was a great experience for the team. If in Lithuania it was mainly assembling the team and setting direction, New Zealand was about harnessing and fine tuning what was established in Lithuania,” said Antonio.

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