Gilas braces for Nikola Vucevic, Montenegro in tuneup

After winning against Cote d'Ivoire in a closed-door tuneup match on Friday, Gilas Pilipinas will next face the Montenegro basketball team on Sunday, and head coach Chot Reyes said it will be a more challenging task.

For Reyes, having Chicago Bulls player Nikola Vucevic on the lineup adds to the challenge of playing against the European squad.

“Oh, Montenegro, that’s a very different team, mas malakas 'yan, European style, [Nikola] Vucevic is there, a bonafide NBA starter for his team, and some others,” Reyes said after their 85-62 win against Cote d'Ivoire.

“D'yan, mapapalaban talaga tayo. But we’ll see. We’re looking to play better in the Montenegro game than we did today,” the Gilas coach added.

(Oh, Montenegro, that's a very different team. They're stronger, playing European style. Vucevic is there, a bonafide NBA starter for his team and some others. That will be challenging. We'll see. We’re looking to play better in the Montenegro game than we did today.)

Reyes praised Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto, who played their first friendly with the rest of the team.

“Well, makikita mo na di pa siya 100 percent, pero he really makes a difference,” Reyes said about Sotto.

“Nakakatulong talaga siya. He adds much needed depth to the team. Hopefully his back holds up. We have two more games before opening night.”

(You can see he's not yet 100 percent but he really makes a difference. He is really a big help. )

The Gilas coach also said Clarkson played for majority of the first half as the latter needed to get the groove of the game.

“Pinag-usapan talaga namin 'yon, he’ll play the whole first half kasi kailangan niyang makuha yung kanyang game wind. And then he starts sa third, and if kailangan siya sa fourth, babalik siya. E di na kinailangan so okay na yon, pahinga, prepare na lang for the next game," said Reyes.

(We talked about playing him the whole first half so he could get his game wind. He would also start in the third, and if we need him in the fourth period, he would play. But we're good so we let him rest and prepare for the next game.)

Clarkson had 13 points while Sotto chipped in 10 points during the said tuneup match.

Dejan Prokic, the Slovenian head coach of Cote d'Ivoire, also praised Clarkson and Gilas.

“Philippines is a very good team, Clarkson is an exceptional player,” Prokic said.

“They have a very good coach, they used what they have, they’re quite bigger than us and today they used it a lot. So I think Angola should not be a question," he added.

Prokic was referring to the match of the Philippines against Angola slated for August 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Gilas Pilipinas will open their campaign on August 25 against the Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena, and will also play Italy at the Big Dome on August 29.

Cote d'Ivoire, meanwhile, will have their group stage matches in Indonesia.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News