BANGKOK, Thailand — Gilas Pilipinas head coach Norman Black has been preaching the importance of playing good quality defense the whole 40 minutes in their quest to retain the gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball event here.

Pressed for time in forming a team under the organizers’ confusing eligibility rules, Black felt that getting his players’ mindset on the same page defensively would be the fastest way to build chemistry.

“I figured it would be the quickest way to get the team together, because, like I said, we’ve only had eight days of practice, nine days of practice. So, playing defense was probably the quickest way to really gel the team,” said Black, who returns as Gilas mentor since steering the team to a gold medal finish in the 2011 Jakarta edition.

Gilas arrived in the Thais’ capital on Thursday, clinging to the hopes for mint No. 20 and second straight in the biennial meet.

Due to the switch in eligibility guidelines to FIBA rules and the ban on naturalized players from the initial “passport only” rule, Gilas had to adjust its roster and find replacements to fill the 12-man lineup.

Black tapped College of Saint Benilde’s Allen Liwag, NLEX’s Robert Bolick, Titan Ultra’s Von Pessumal, Blackwater’s Dalph Panopio, free agent Justin Chua, Thirdy Ravena, Matthew Wright, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Jamie Malonzo, Abu Tratter, Far Eastern University’s Veejay Pre, and Adamson University’s Cedrick Manzano.   

With little over a week of preparation, Black relied on his vaunted defense-oriented system to make it easier to jell the team.

“So, we’ve been focusing on defensive preparation to make sure that there’s good communication. Guys are out there assisting one another defensively, and of course, we’re rebounding the basketball. Because that’s the most important way to finish your defense: to rebound,” he said.

Black is confident of Gilas’ firepower but emphasized the need to make stops to get their offense going. 

“Well, I always believe that defense will help you win games, and it will help you win championships. Sometimes offense can blow hot and cold, and you don’t really make your shots every single night, but you can play good defense every night,” he said.

Gilas will start its title-retention bid against Malaysia on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (Manila time) in Pool A.