Macau Team Manager Praises Gilas’ 6th Man Effect
Macau Black Bears Team Manager and Assistant Coach Kevin Connelly, who has been a part of the program since 2023, said “The 6th man effect was real,” in reference to his team’s 21-point collapse against Gilas Pilipinas.
He was once the head coach of the team but recently hired Garret Kelly to call the shots.
The day after their match against the Philippine national team, Connelly spoke with ALL-STAR about the depth of their opponents’ roster which was a major factor in the result. Below are key moments from Monday’s Gilas Pilipinas vs. Macau Black Bears from the visitors’ POV:
Gilas’ Powerhouse Coaches
Connelly mentioned that the Macau Black Bears knew it was going to be a battle and that the Gilas players don’t beat themselves, as they are also “..very well-coached by Coach Cone and the staff”.
Tough Opponents Despite DNPs
The Macau team observed that the Gilas lineup is strong but clearly missing two centers on the hardcourt. Despite that, Connelly recognized Kevin Quiambao’s productivity and Justin Brownlee’s ability to score on all three levels.
He even jokingly mentioned that “Brownlee was the focus of our game plan but that clearly didn’t work”.
Macau Commends Gilas’ Second Half
With Macau getting the upper hand in the first two quarters, the Gilas players regrouped themselves at the half.
Connelly described that the Gilas players “…came out of halftime with Chris Newsome and CJ Perez [playing] faster”.
The Black Bears had four straight turnovers to open the third quarter, where Connelly said that the Gilas players “..took advantage of our sloppy play and quickly erased that halftime deficit.”
Edu as Gilas’ Gamechanger
Apart from the crowd going wild every time Dwight Ramos touches the basketball, Connelly and his team highlighted AJ Edu to be the showstopper. “He brought great energy especially in the 2nd half with some monster finishes,” shares Connelly as the rest of the Gilas Pilipinas players filled the gaps.
Overall, Connelly acknowledges how the fans showed up for Gilas in the Araneta Coliseum, adding “another element” to the intensity of the game.
“They (Gilas) really fed off the crowd so the 6th man effect was real”, said Connelly as he looks forward to having more games with local teams.
