ZCZC
BSP-12
BASKET-WC-2019-PHI-COACH
Philippines basketball coach quits after World Cup shutout
MANILA, Sept 11, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The Philippines basketball coach
resigned and apologised to the hoops-mad nation Wednesday after the national
squad failed to win a game at the FIBA Basketball World Cup and finished dead
last.
Yeng Guiao’s team were blown out by a combined 105 points by Italy and
Serbia to open their campaign in Group D at the tournament in China, and also
lost to Angola in overtime, 84-81.
The Gilas, ranked 31st in the world, fared no better in the classification
round, losing by large margins to Tunisia and Iran to finish last out of the
32 nations competing.
“I am sorry we could not deliver a better performance. Our players gave
their best against talented, bigger, stronger, and better prepared athletes
from the best teams in the world,” Guiao said in a statement.
Guiao took over the Philippines’ crippled team last year, succeeding Chot
Reyes, who was among two coaches and 10 players given suspensions for an on-
court brawl with Australia in a World Cup qualifier in Manila.
The July 2 melee left the Australian team fearing for their safety and
prompted them to seek embassy help to speed up their departure from the
Philippines.
Three Australian players were also suspended after the brawl, which also
saw spectators storm onto the court.
“It is with a heavy heart that we accept Coach Yeng’s resignation,”
Basketball Federation of the Philippines president Al Panlilio said in a
separate statement.
“Guiao had the unenviable task of picking up the pieces for Gilas
Pilipinas,” he added, praising the coach for securing qualification to the
World Cup despite the tall odds.
The Philippine campaign was not helped by President Rodrigo Duterte, who
openly disparaged the Gilas’ chances against their much taller European
opponents.
“We don’t have a chance in that one. Let us bet on China instead,” Duterte
said in a speech to Filipino-Chinese businessmen last month.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1726 hrs