FIBA World Cup: Fajardo, Edu get high praises from Chot

In the many years he’s coached the national team, Chot Reyes has learned to use every missed opportunity or mistake as a learning experience.

And Friday night’s 2023 FIBA World Cup opening game against the Dominican Republic was no different.

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Gilas had been tantalizingly close in pulling off a massive upset against a team that had NBA star big man Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way. But a fifth foul called on Gilas naturalized player Jordan Clarkson proved to be costly for the host team as the Dominicanas made it one final surge inside the last three minutes to scrape past the Filipinos, 87-81.

“If there was something I’m disappointed about, we wanted to go to him a lot more,” Reyes told media men after the game, referring to six-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo.

The 6-foot-10 Fajardo finished with 16 points on a perfect five-of-five shooting from the field, along with seven rebounds in over 28 minutes of action.

Reyes said he can’t demand anything more from the Cebuano star center, who is playing in his third World Cup in his distinguished basketball career.

“Unfortunately he was guarded by a seven-footer,” Reyes added, this time, pointing to Towns. “He did a good job denying him. It’s a mark of a great team. That’s an (NBA) All-Star. There’s a reason why he’s an NBA All-Star.”

Reyes also commended the defensive effort of young Gilas big man AJ Edu, who had seven points and five rebounds, while managing to hold his own against Towns during his 26-minute playing time.

“Can’t complain about the efforts of June Mar and AJ Edu. They were just trying to defend and stop KAT,” he added.

The two Gilas big men will try to build on their impressive World Cup opening night performance as the Philippines takes on Angola on Sunday night.