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Asian Games: Coach Yeng has a good feeling about game against Korea

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/08/24/gilas.jpg"/><figcaption>Yeng Guiao and the men&#x27;s national basketball team at practice in Jakarta.</figcaption></figure></div>JAKARTA -- Korea has been the bane of the Philippines’ existence in Asian basketball but coach Yeng Guiao is optimistic that they are due for a breakthrough victory in the 2018 Asian Games.Korea has been responsible for some of the Philippines’ most heartbreaking losses in international basketball, the most recent of which was a 118-86 demolition at the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon last year.Their rivalry will be renewed on August 27, when Korea and the Philippines battle in the quarterfinals of the men’s basketball tournament here in the Asiad. “Alam mo historically ang Korea, suki tayo niyan. Hirap tayong manalo diyan sa Korea,” acknowledged Guiao.“Pero maganda ang pakiramdam ko this time,” he also said.Guiao’s squad, assembled with barely two weeks to go before the start of the Asian Games, has given a good account of itself in Jakarta. They easily dismantled Kazakhstan in their first game, then took a powerhouse Chinese team to the final possession in their second and last game of group play.That they have Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson in the fold only adds to Guiao’s optimism.“With Jordan Clarkson and the way the players are playing, they’re really very motivated,” said Guiao. “And si Boss MVP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan) dumaan pa sa Athetes’ Village.”“Kahit talo (against China), binigyan niya ng suporta ‘yung mga bata, dahil nakita niya ‘yung effort,” he added.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/generalsports/news/2018/08/23/no-rest-diaz-prepares-world-championships-45950">READ: No rest for Hidilyn Diaz as she prepares for World Championships</a></li></ul>Given all this, Guiao believes that they are on even footing with Korea heading into their knockout game.“Sa nilaro natin sa China, even ‘yan,” he said. “Dati medyo ano pa, masabi ko na lamang pa sila, pero ngayon, the way this team is developing, the way we&#x27;re getting that cohesion (it’s even).”The Philippines came close to beating China, squandering a late lead to succumb, 82-80, against the Asian powerhouse. That marked the debut of Clarkson, with the Cleveland Cavalier guard dropping 28 points, including 16 in the third quarter.But Clarkson only shot 10-of-25 from the field -- a clip that Guiao expects to improve against Korea.“Hindi pa nga tayo masyadong efficient doon sa China game, dahil first game lang ni Jordan after the NBA finals. So we&#x27;re expecting a little bit more efficiency in the Korea game,” he said.As hopeful as he is, however, Guiao also knows how deadly Korea can be -- especially now that they have a naturalized player in former PBA import Ricardo Ratliffe. The sweet-shooting Koreans, he said, will be an entirely different challenge than China which used its superior size to impose its will against the Filipinos.“Itong Korea, dadaanin nila sa ball movement at saka sa outside shooting. Sobrang deadly ng mga ito eh. &#x27;Pag naiwan mo lang sandali, three-points na, kaya kailangan naka-focus tayo sa challenge natin sa mga three-point shots nila,” he said. “&#x27;Yun ang talagang delikado dito. &#x27;Pag nagpapasok ang mga tres nito, mahihirapan na tayo kaya paghahandaan natin &#x27;yun,” he added.The Philippine basketball team returned to work on Thursday after a day’s rest following their game against China. For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Korea has been responsible for some of the Philippines’ most heartbreaking losses in international basketball, the most recent of which was a 118-86 demolition at the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon last year.

Korea has been responsible for some of the Philippines’ most heartbreaking losses in international basketball, the most recent of which was a 118-86 demolition at the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon last year.

Asian Games: Coach Yeng has a good feeling about game against Korea

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Asian Games: Coach Yeng has a good feeling about game against Korea

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 24, 2018 01:01 PM PHT

Read More:

Asian Games

basketball

Yeng Guiao

Gilas Pilipinas

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