Tiu sees Lastimosa as asset in Gilas
Strong Group coach Charles Tiu is convinced that Adamson veteran playmaker Jerom Lastimosa will be a big asset for Gilas Pilipinas should the wiry guard make the final cut for the upcoming sixth and final window of the 2023 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.The Philippines is set to host Lebanon on February 24, followed by Jordan on February 27. Both games will be played at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. Lastimosa was recently named to the 24-man Gilas pool by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.Tiu said Lastimosa's recent experience in the 32nd Dubai International Basketball Championship will come in handy considering that Strong Group's last two games- which incidentally ended in losses- were against Lebanese club teams Dynamo and powerhouse Al Riyadi."I hope he (Lastimosa) makes it really. He is an unstoppable scorer who is a dead shot from the outside," stressed Tiu, best remembered for steering Mighty Sports to the championship in the Dubai tournament in the 2020 to become the first non-Middle East squad to win the title."It will be a great experience especially since pretty much all of the Lebanese national team players that will be in that window, are all here in this tournament and he just competed against them and held his own."Amir Saoud and 2022 Fiba Asia Cup Most Valuable Player Wael Arajki were just some of the veteran Lebanese national players, whom Lastimosa played against during Strong Group's 106-97 loss to Al Riyadi in the knockout quarterfinal phase, putting an end to the Philippine club team's title aspirations.Saoud, a veteran member of Lebanon national five, exploded for 41 points, spiked by seven triples. His timely connections eventually doomed Strong Group's chances.While NBA veterans Shabazz Muhammad and Renaldo Balkman carried the bulk of the scoring and rebounding, Tiu lauded Lastimosa for displaying toughness playing against foreign players, along with showcasing his scoring ability."Jerome Lastimosa was great. They couldn't really guard him here and he improved defensively and adjusted as the tournament progressed. He is really good," explained Tiu.But as a whole, Tiu said Strong Group's young players led by last-minute addition, young big man Kevin Quiambao of La Salle, University of the Philippines guard JD Cagulangan and incoming Fighting Maroon Francis Lopez, along with St Benilde's Migs Oczon and Will Gozum have also benefited from the experience in Dubai."I think overall it was a good experience for our young players, seeing the competition here, being around high level basketball teams and competing against them," he said."Cagulangan was a menace defensively and although he was smaller than everyone, he never backed down," Tiu emphasized. "I'm sure he will have learnings on what to improve in his game while Kevin will continue to develop and bring this experience to the UAAP."
Strong Group coach Charles Tiu is convinced that Adamson veteran playmaker Jerom Lastimosa will be a big asset for Gilas Pilipinas should the wiry guard make the final cut for the upcoming sixth and final window of the 2023 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.
The Philippines is set to host Lebanon on February 24, followed by Jordan on February 27. Both games will be played at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. Lastimosa was recently named to the 24-man Gilas pool by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Tiu said Lastimosa's recent experience in the 32nd Dubai International Basketball Championship will come in handy considering that Strong Group's last two games- which incidentally ended in losses- were against Lebanese club teams Dynamo and powerhouse Al Riyadi.
"I hope he (Lastimosa) makes it really. He is an unstoppable scorer who is a dead shot from the outside," stressed Tiu, best remembered for steering Mighty Sports to the championship in the Dubai tournament in the 2020 to become the first non-Middle East squad to win the title.
"It will be a great experience especially since pretty much all of the Lebanese national team players that will be in that window, are all here in this tournament and he just competed against them and held his own."
Amir Saoud and 2022 Fiba Asia Cup Most Valuable Player Wael Arajki were just some of the veteran Lebanese national players, whom Lastimosa played against during Strong Group's 106-97 loss to Al Riyadi in the knockout quarterfinal phase, putting an end to the Philippine club team's title aspirations.
Saoud, a veteran member of Lebanon national five, exploded for 41 points, spiked by seven triples. His timely connections eventually doomed Strong Group's chances.
While NBA veterans Shabazz Muhammad and Renaldo Balkman carried the bulk of the scoring and rebounding, Tiu lauded Lastimosa for displaying toughness playing against foreign players, along with showcasing his scoring ability.
"Jerome Lastimosa was great. They couldn't really guard him here and he improved defensively and adjusted as the tournament progressed. He is really good," explained Tiu.
But as a whole, Tiu said Strong Group's young players led by last-minute addition, young big man Kevin Quiambao of La Salle, University of the Philippines guard JD Cagulangan and incoming Fighting Maroon Francis Lopez, along with St Benilde's Migs Oczon and Will Gozum have also benefited from the experience in Dubai.
"I think overall it was a good experience for our young players, seeing the competition here, being around high level basketball teams and competing against them," he said.
"Cagulangan was a menace defensively and although he was smaller than everyone, he never backed down," Tiu emphasized. "I'm sure he will have learnings on what to improve in his game while Kevin will continue to develop and bring this experience to the UAAP."
