Chot says Gilas will play a friendly match vs Mexico

The Philippine men’s basketball team is scheduled to play the national squad of Mexico in a friendly match a few days before Gilas Pilipinas squares off with the Dominican Republic on August 25 in the opening night of the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“We already have a confirmed friendly (match) with Mexico here in Manila,” Reyes said in an interview with SEAG Network.

Chot Reyes SBP PHOTO 

Reyes said the tuneup match versus Mexico is a good simulation game for the Philippines against a Latin American squad.

“That (game versus Mexico) should take the place of a Latin American style of play, which we are looking for as we prepare for the Dominican Republic,” Reyes added.

The outspoken Gilas mentor is also still awaiting confirmation if the Philippines can play in a separate friendly match against Puerto Rico once the team concludes its mini pocket tournament in Guangdong, China in the first week of August.

“We have a request to play Puerto Rico (while in China), so even if we just stay a bit longer. We hope our request gets granted,” added the 59-year-old Gilas coach.

The Philippine team is scheduled to play Iran, Lebanon and Senegal in a pocket tournament from August 2 to 5 in Guangdong.

The tournament is a good followup the Philippine team’s recent 16-day Europe training camp that included tuneup matches against national teams from Estonia and Finland, the Ukraine under-20 national squad as well as a pair of teams from Lithuania.

Reyes also noted that the European trip strengthened the bond of the Gilas players and allowed them to get better acquainted with the team’s defensive and offensive schemes.