Chot says 'it's going to take a village' to stop Karl-Anthony Towns, Dominican Republic

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes reaffirmed that beating the Dominican Republic won't be a walk in the park when the two nations collide on Friday in the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the Philippine Arena.

More so, Reyes stressed putting the stops on NBA star Karl Anthony Towns would be more difficult for the Filipinos.

Despite this, Reyes said nothing is impossible, noting that it would take a collective effort to pull an upset against the world no. 23 Dominicans.

"I don't think it's physically possible for any single person on our team or perhaps in the entire World Cup to stop Karl Anthony Towns one-on-one so it's going to take a village to beat them, to stop him and Dominican because it's not a one-man team," Reyes said in a press conference on Thursday.

Towns had not played for their national team for ten years, but he decided to suit up for this World Cup to help the Dominican Republic in its campaign. Despite a long absence from the World Cup stage, the 27-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves big man remains to be the player to watch.

Reyes and Gilas Pilipinas understand this tall task that incidentally falls on their World Cup opener.

The Gilas mentor said the job to stop Towns is to be carried by their frontline crew led by the veteran duo of Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo as well as young guns AJ Edu and Kai Sotto.

"The initial job is gonna fall on the frontline," he said.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News