Guiao: I will answer for it

Coach of the of the Philippines Joseller Guiao (R) talks with a referee during the Basketball World Cup Group D game between Angola and Philippines in Foshan on September 4, 2019. (Photo by Ye Aung Thu / AFP)

FOSHAN, China – The latest setback of Gilas Pilipinas may be depressing, but for head coach Yeng Guiao, they shouldn’t be affected by the negativity.

Guiao, the tough-talking NLEX mentor in the Philippine Basketball Association, said getting too emotional wouldn’t help, especially since they still have a pair of games left in the ongoing FIBA Basketball World Cup here.

In a game that they were expected to win, Gilas crumbled under pressure, allowing Angola to post an 84-81 overtime victory.

It was such a sorry loss as the Nationals had a chance to win it in regulations, but CJ Perez failed to execute and dragged the game into an extra period, where the taller, heftier Angolans asserted their dominance.

In the end, Kiefer Ravena broke down into tears at center court as his desperation shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

Guiao understood where his young ward is coming from, but quickly stressed that no amount of tears can win them games.

“Of course to me, if you look at the criticisms, the negative comments, the bashers, I can understand that,” said Guiao. “But to me and the rest of the team, that’s not going to help if you focus on those things. That’s not going to help so why think of something that’s not going to help you anyway.”

Ravena said it was such an emotional game for them, especially since they are coming off a 46-point loss to Italy and 59-point meltdown to Serbia.

Their match against Angola was the only game where they have realistic chance of winning, but they fumbled it as lapse in judgment and immaturity doomed their chances.

“It was an emotional game for each and every one of us,” said Ravena, who scored six points in 19 minutes of action. “We’ve been under so much fire when we went here. Other people do not believe that we will win here.”

But Guiao said Ravena doesn’t have to worry.

“As I’ve said, when we get back to Manila, we don’t need to answer to anything. I’m going to answer anyone who will question our performance here,” said Guiao.