JORDAN head coach Luis Guil pointed to Gilas Pilipinas’ transition game and offensive rebounding as the key factors in his team’s 81-82 overtime loss on Friday in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Guil said Jordan struggled to contain the Philippines’ extra possessions, allowing Gilas to grab 10 offensive rebounds while also giving up points off turnovers and transition plays.
“For me, it’s clear where the key is in the game. It’s in the 90 points, Gilas after transition, after turnovers,” Guil said during the postgame press conference.
“If Gilas has more possessions, we have problems trying to win the game,” he added.
The Jordan coach said his players gave everything they had during the contest but acknowledged that small details in the closing minutes of regulation and overtime ultimately decided the outcome.
Gilas erased a four-point deficit in overtime before Kevin Quiambao hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 11.7 seconds remaining. Kai Sotto then helped preserve the lead by challenging Jordan’s final attempt.
Guil praised his players for their effort despite having only recently taken over the national team program.
“I think that we are working well. We worked together not a lot of time because I joined with the national team 15 days ago,” he said. “But we are working very well together and I think that is good to try to qualify to Qatar in the next few weeks.”
Guil also credited Gilas for its development since the teams last met, noting the Philippines now has several players gaining experience in Japan’s B.League and Korean Basketball League.
He singled out Kai Sotto’s presence as a major factor for the Philippines, saying the 7-foot-3 center changes the way Gilas operates offensively.
“I think that he’s a key player for them because when he plays, the ball is in his hands a lot of times,” Guil said.
The Jordan coach was also impressed by the depth of the Philippine program, saying Gilas has a large pool of players capable of competing at a high level in FIBA basketball.
“For me, they have an incredible team, very big roster. They have a lot of players,” he said.
Guil also explained Jordan’s drop in three-point efficiency after a strong shooting performance in the first half.
He said he warned his players at halftime that they could not continue relying heavily on pull-up jumpers, especially after shooting around 50 percent early in the game.
“This kind of shot is very difficult in one game,” Guil said, noting that fatigue also became a factor for some players who had limited competition leading into the window.
Despite the defeat, Guil said Jordan created opportunities to win, particularly with its final possessions, but failed to convert them.
He now wants his team to shift its attention to its next assignment, believing Jordan will improve with more training and international competition.
“Day by day, with more practices, more games, we are going to get better,” Guil said. (Adrian Co)
