Yeng Guiao explains how PHL lost to Korea in Asian Games basketball quarters

After taking the blame for the Philippines' 91-82 defeat to South Korea in the Asian Games basketball tournament on Monday, Philippine basketball team head coach Yeng Guiao explained how the team failed with their game plan.

In an interview with Arnold Clavio on Unang Balita on Tuesday, Guiao reveals the team's game strategy, which he said had only worked during the first three and a half quarters of the game.

He also mentioned South Korea's team import Ricardo Ratliffe who also previously played for the Philippine team.

"Ang strategy o ang game plan natin, depensahan natin single coverage 'yong import. Hindi na natin ido-double. Pagtutulungan na lang ng ating mga big men. Of course 'yong mga big men natin 'di naman kasing laki ni Ratliffe, maliit pa rin kumpara kay Ratliffe, pero pinili natin na dikitan 'yong mga three-point shooter nila. For three and a half quarter umuubra 'yong strategy natin," Guiao said.

He added that despite building up an advantage in the second half, it was squandered down the stretch with the Koreans' three-point shooting and offensive rebounding in the last five minutes of the game.

"Pero pagdating noong mga last five minutes, 'yong mga offensive rebounds, eh bumabagsak sa kamay nila pagpasa sa labas. Mga dalawa o tatlong beses nangyari 'yon. Nao-open 'yong three-point shooter at doon nakaka-shoot ng libre 'yong mga Koreano. Do'n actually tayo medyo nagkamali. 'Yon 'yong weakness natin," he explained.

The head coach said he couldn't put the blame on the players since he witnessed how each of them worked hard.

"Nagsusumikap man tayo makuha 'yong rebound, siguro mas matangkad din sila sa 'tin ng konti. Nakuha nila 'yong rebound at tayo eh nag-scramble na lang. Doon ang difference," he said.

"'Di ko masisi ang mga bata. Mga bata natin pinaglaban talaga 'yong maipagmalki sana natin sila, maging proud tayo, pero kapos talaga. Kulang tayo sa oras at napakagagaling ng mga Koreano," he added.

Guiao said he takes full responsibility for the Philippine team's loss to South Korea.

"'Di ko naman sila puwede sisihin, kaya inako ko 'yong responsibilidad, dahil 'yong paghahanda, dahil sa atin 'yan eh 'no. Bilang isang coach, kailangan i-handa natin ang mga player," he added.

Guiao said the highest they could salvage is a fifth place finish.

The team will have a game against Japan on Tuesday, August 28, at 4 p.m. (Jakarta time) and another on August 31 against Indonesia.

"Today, mamayang hapon 4 o'clock, Jakarta time, may game uli tayo (laban sa) Japan. Kailangan talunin natin 'yong Japan. At tsaka isang laro pa sa August 31st. Malamang Indonesia kalaban natin kung saan plays 5th place dahil wala nga tayo sa semi-finals. Pinakamataas na makukuha natin ngayon panglima na lang," Guiao said. —Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/KG, GMA News