‘We just have to step up’

After head coach Tim Cone shouldered the responsibility following Gilas Pilipinas’ loss to Chinese Taipei to open the FIBA Asia Cup, AJ Edu says he and his teammates are equally accountable

MANILA, Philippines – For AJ Edu, the blame for Gilas Pilipinas’ loss falls on the players just as much as it does on the coaches.

After head coach Tim Cone shouldered the responsibility following the Philippines’ 95-87 defeat to Chinese Taipei to open the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Edu said he and his teammates are equally accountable.

“The coaches can give us all the schemes and prepare us all they can, but I think us guys on the court got to take responsibility as well. We just have to step up,” said Edu, who finished with 8 points and 12 rebounds as a starter. 

A flat start doomed the Filipinos as they got buried in a 17-point hole in the opening quarter and played catchup all game long, their multiple comeback attempts falling short.

Ill-advised fouls also ruined the Philippines’ chances, with Chinese Taipei attempting a whopping 35 free throws and making 27 of them for a respectable 77% clip.

Naturalized star Justin Brownlee, for example, fouled out with over four minutes left to play, leaving the Philippines without its best player at a time when the game was still in the balance.

While Kevin Quiambao proved to be a silver lining following his fourth-quarter heroics, the Filipinos’ failure in containing Chen Ying-Chun, who erupted for 34 points on a 6-of-8 clip from long range, spelled the difference. 

“I think we got punched early, and we did not punch back,” said Edu. 

“We knew how good they were coming into this game. It was just on us as players to step up, knowing how good they are.”

Having learned their lesson the hard way, Edu and Gilas Pilipinas hope to redeem themselves against New Zealand on Thursday, August 7. – Rappler.com