Gilas Pilipinas Coach Chot Reyes stressed that the national squad will need to work together to stop NBA star Karl Anthony Towns, and emerge victorious against the Dominican Republic on Friday, August 25, in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Reyes expressed his doubts that any player competing in the 2023 FIBA World Cup could 'physically' go up against the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year one-on-one.
"It's going to take a village to beat (Dominican Republic), to stop him and Dominican because it is not a one-man team that we are playing tomorrow," Reyes said during a press conference on Thursday, August 24.
Like the Dominican Republic, the Filipinos will also have an NBA star on their roster
2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson and Six-time PBA Most Valuable Player Junemar Fajardo banner the 12-man national team composed of Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Rhenz Abando, RR Pogoy, AJ Edu, CJ Perez, and Kiefer Ravena.
The 2023 FIBA World Cup will begin on Friday with an opening ceremony at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The Philippine Arena, which could seat up to 55,000 people. will also serve as the venue for the match between Gilas Pilipinas and the Dominican Republic, as well as the game between Angola, and Italy.
