Gilas Pilipinas not only faced the Taiwan Mustangs in a send-off match as they prepared for the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifiers, but they also locked horns with some familiar faces.
The Mustangs, who are coached by former PBA tactician Chris Gavina, paraded Alex Cabagnot, Rashawn McCarthy and Geo Chiu as they battled with the Lativa-bound Nationals just before they lost steam in the second half.
Despite an absorbing defeat against the Tim Cone-mentored squad, Cabagnot couldn’t help but be in awe of how the Filipino hoopers competed and showed their progress.
“Ang galing. May shooters, penetrators, tapos malalaki sila sa loob. You know [Justin] Brownlee’s a beast,” said the former Gilas guard himself, who posted 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists as he described the Philippines frontline that at points featured Fajardo and Kai Sotto at the same time.
“Lumakas si June Mar. Talagang kondisyon siya. I’m a June Mar Fajardo fan. Marami kaming pinagsamahan, and kahit na nasa ibang bansa ako, talagang sinu-support ko sila. Even si Chris Newsome.”
“I’m a big fan. I watched that team, but now that I actually played against them, now I become more excited. ‘Di ba kapag nanonood lang tayo, sasabihin mo, ‘Uy, magaling yan.’ But when you’re actually playing against them, and you’re running up and down the court with them, it’s like ang galing talaga nila. Mafi-feel mo ‘yung camaraderie, teamwork, ‘yung chemistry nila.”
“Hindi mo sila pwedeng maiwan kasi knockdown shooters sila. We were getting close kanina, tapos they hit two three-pointers in a row. And alam mo nang pasok na pasok kasi they moved the ball so well. Guys that can shoot, it’s hard to defend,” the San Miguel Beermen legend added.
And when asked if Gilas is now ready to bang bodies with the world’s no. 6 ranked Latvia and no. 23 Georgia, Cabagnot quickly offered this response:
“Syempre naman. Of course, they’re ready,” he exclaimed, while expressing how he hoped they also gave Gilas a good fight ahead of their next two friendlies against Turkey and Poland.
“We wanted to compete, and we wanted to have a nice sparring. Good thing na pinili kami as a sparring partner,” said the multiple-time PBA champion.
“Sana nakatulong kami.” (ABS-CBN News)