JAKARTA - Now two weeks together and made a whole lot better by the addition of Jordan Clarkson, the PBA-backed Philippine quintet clashes with China in a critical match in the 18th Asian Games at the GBK Basketball Hall here Tuesday.
The Nationals and the Chinese square off in a crucial showdown at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. in Manila), determining which team gets a light matchup in the quarterfinals and which will be sent to a tough battle with titleholder South Korea.
A week here, five days with Clarkson, national coach Yeng Guiao is upbeat they may be headed to achieving something special.
Guiao said the Rain or Shine-led Philippine team has become a lot quicker, deadlier and more stable in the backcourt.
"Nadagdagan ang quickness natin sa pagdating si Clarkson," Guiao added. "Jordan's mentality is he can control the game just by his decision-making not to mention his skills and physical abilities.
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"If you give him the ball and make him create, it's either he will find the open guy or he will score. A lot of PBA imports don't get to that level. Mayroon silang physical skills, mayroon silang size and mayroon silang abilities, pero at a young age, it's really the mental aspect of the game (that sets him apart). How he reads the game, how he makes decision, how he chooses his options, I think that's the difference," Guiao pointed out.
Even still sans Clarkson, the Nationals showed their potential for a possible medal finish in a dominant wire-to-wire 96-59 mauling of Kazakhstan on Thursday.
The players themselves are in high spirits.
"We'll be better than expected," said Asi Taulava.
"Having Clarkson Jordan here is big. Then there's Stan the man (Stanley Pringle), there's Paul Lee. I think we've got the best guard rotation that we've had (in the national team) in a long time," Taulava also said.
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Chris Tiu called their group here as an assembly of experienced, intelligent players.
"JD provides much talent and athleticism; Stanley puts in much quickness and basketball IQ," said Tiu.
"The big strength of this team is its quickness. And making things easy for all of us is the system of coach Yeng Guiao. No conflict, everyone benefits from it, and it's easy to grasp for anyone," said Beau Belga.
Tiu also stated the obvious: "Ang kulang lang nito height especially against China."
But Guiao feels well they have a good chance against China especially if it would be a close game.
The main weapon could really well be Clarkson.
"We don't need him to score much. We need him to make the players around him better. But there's no doubt he can break down defense at will. He can bail us out, if he needs to, at the finish," said Guiao.(SB)
