In the aftermath of the Philippines’ 87:81 loss to the Dominican Republic, head coach Vincent Chot Reyes addressed the media, discussing the challenges his team faced and their outlook for the tournament.
The defeat has certainly added complexity to the Philippines’ path in the competition, as they would now need victories against Angola and Italy to advance.
“I’m satisfied with the fight displayed by my players. Unfortunately, Jordan Clarkson’s ejection disrupted us, but we can’t dwell on that now. We need to focus on the match against Angola,” Reyes began, before touching on the upcoming opponent.
JC gave it his all ๐ ๐ต๐ญ#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/SYWEgRRSM4
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) August 25, 2023
“Angola employs the same high press as the Dominicans. Today, we had 19 turnovers, and that cost us the game. We shot better than the opponents, but they had more possessions. So, it all boils down to us surrendering 19 turnovers and allowing 17 offensive rebounds. We need to cope with the defensive pressure if we intend to defeat Angola.”
When asked about Jordan Clarkson’s ejection and his fifth foul, which the referees deemed an offensive foul, Reyes responded, “I’ll receive a penalty if I discuss that, but the mere fact that you’re asking the question speaks volumes. We all understand basketball here, and obviously, it wasn’t the correct decision.”
About record
A new record was set in this match. A staggering 38,115 spectators filled the Philippino Arena, marking the largest attendance in the history of the FIBA World Cup.
“That’s why the greatest regret remains that we didn’t win, as it would have been a wonderful gift to these people who came to the game. The players gave their all, but without Clarkson on the court, Towns dominated. He consistently drove into the paint and drew fouls, converting from the free-throw line. They attempted 34 free throws, which is excessive for us,” Reyes explained.
June Fajardo delivered an exceptional performance in this match. The Filipino center didn’t miss a shot during his 28 minutes on the court, accumulating 16 points.
“He’s an incredibly efficient player. In the closing moments, we aimed to get him the ball more, but he was guarded by Karl-Anthony Towns, forcing him out of the paint. Credit must be given to them; they defended him well, a sign of a great team. Karl-Anthony Towns being an NBA All-Star isn’t a coincidence,” Reyes concluded.