Weary Gilas Pilipinas players insist short break enough as Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan rejoin Rain or Shine practice

FOCUS shifts from country to club as some Gilas Pilipinas players reported back to their mother clubs on Wednesday, two days before the PBA Governors’ Cup unfolds at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan rejoined Rain or Shine training just six days after the national team kissed its Olympic hopes goodbye following a winless stint in the Qualifying Tournament.

Asked if he would’ve wished to have a longer vacation, Norwood insisted the six-day rest was enough.

“The break was needed, but it’s time to get back to work,” the ROS utility player told Spin.ph hours after practice.

Good thing, the E-Painters won’t play until next Wednesday, giving the Gilas standouts a week to relink with their teammates.

E-Painters coach Yeng Guiao wanted to give his weary stars a longer vacation, but couldn’t.
“Alam ko pagod yung national team players namin, pero we could not give them a longer break than what we gave them, kasi importante rin na at least close to full force kami pagdating ng first game,” he said.

“We just need to put together our chemistry, cohesion with the new import,” the veteran coach added, referring to Dior Lowhorn, who anchors the squad in its bid for back-to-back championships after they won the Commissioner’s Cup.

ROS star Paul Lee, another Gilas pool member, has also joined practice after a minor operation on his knee, but is limited to shooting, jogging, and some weightlifting as he still can’t join contact drills.

“Paul is coming along fine with the therapy and recovery from his injury,” Guiao said.-spin.ph