Gilas Pilipinas stood toe-to-toe against the best basketball nations in its return to the FIBA World Cup in 2014 despite winning just 1 of its 5 games.

Although its record showed otherwise, the Philippines proved to be no pushover after dragging European powerhouse Croatia to overtime and almost beating South American teams Argentina and Puerto Rico.

Looking back, former Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes admitted he would have done differently down the stretch as the country fell one win short of a potential second-round appearance.

“[I]f I had more experience, maybe I could have devised better plays or better strategies for the players,” Reyes told the Coaches Unfiltered vodcast. “My job is to get players good looks or better looks.”

“Making the shot, that is the players’ job, and I’m the first to admit that I was not able to get them those good shots, those good looks.”

A particular game where Reyes said he should have adjusted was against Puerto Rico and Dallas Mavericks guard JJ Barea.

Gilas Pilipinas led 70-67 with two minutes left before Barea, who was guarded by Gabe Norwood, stopped on the dime from way beyond the three-point line to knot the score.

Puerto Rico won, 77-73.

Averaging just 19.5 points prior to the game, Barea scored 30 points against the Philippines, including the go-ahead layup with a minute left that put Puerto Rico up for good.

“[M]y instruction to Gabe was to guard the three-point line, to take away the three-point shot. Maybe I should have told him to start guarding Barea from half court and not let Barea shoot,” Reyes said.

“You cannot blame Gabe because he had the three-point line covered but [Barea] pulled up way, way, way beyond the three-point line.”

Reyes also highlighted the lack of time the players had in order to build a stronger rapport upon the arrival of former NBA player Andray Blatche.

The 57-year-old mentor said the players met Blatche in July 2014, just a month before the Philippines played its first game against Croatia.

“If you can imagine, if you had given that team more time to know each other, to play together, maybe we could have done more damage.”

“But I know the realities that we worked with – the schedule of the players, the PBA schedule – those are all given, but if you’re asking me if there is one thing could have been different, that is that one thing, to have more time.”

Despite the heartbreaking losses, the Philippines still wrapped up the tournament on a high note with its first World Cup win in 40 years after surviving Senegal in overtime. – Rappler.com