GILAS CHOOSES JORDAN, TAIPEI, SAUDI AS GROUPMATES
Gilas Pilipinas, as expected, opted to play the lesser lights before taking on the heavyweights in the 27 th FIBA Asia Championship set Aug. 1-11 at the MOA Arena in Pasay and the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Coach Chot Reyes, following the draw proceedings at the Manila Hotel from Lithuania through phone, decided to avoid early confrontations with traditional powers China, Iran and South Korea, choosing games against Jordan, Chinese Taipei and Saudi Arabia as their warm-ups for the more important games ahead.
After the matches against the Jordanians, the Taiwanese and the Saudi quintet, Gilas is likely to go to the next phase of the prelims playing the Japanese, the Lebanese and the Qataris.
“Coach Chot felt it is where we have the best chance to be No. 1 or No. 2 going to the knockout stage,” said assistant coach Norman Black, the one formally announcing Gilas’ choice of preliminary-round grouping.
“We’re in constant touch with coach Chot and he wants us to be in Group A,” said Black whose announcement was greeted with warm approval by Filipino cage leaders and followers present in the venue.
“Our fate remains in our hands. No matter how our choice of group pans out, we just have to bring our A-game through all the phases of the tournament to be competitive,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud. “Let’s go Gilas Pilipinas! Our country’s hopes and prayers are with you.”
Twelve PBA players are with naturalized player Marcus Douthit undergoing extensive training in Lithuania for the Asian joust where they hope to nail one of three slots allotted for Asia in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Nash Racela, also a member of the Gilas coaching staff, said Reyes’ choice boiled down between Group A and Group D.
“Magaan yung Group D but then haharapin mo ang China, Iran and South Korea sa susunod na round. Nandoon din sa grupo ang Kazakhstan, so delikado tayong hindi makarating sa quarterfinals,” said Racela.
Thus, Gilas chose to be with Jordan, Chinese Taipei and Saudi Arabia in Group A after which it is to face the top three teams from Group B composed of Japan, Qatar, Lebanon and Hong Kong.
Defending titlist China, and two-time champs Iran and South Korea were drawn with SEA II (qualifier from Southeast Asia) in Group C while Kazakhstan joined SEA I, India and Bahrain in Group D.
FIBA Asia secretary general Hagop Khajirian, from Lebanon, considered it a good draw.
“We’ve had 10 competitive teams in the region in the last 10 years and they are all here. Nobody can guess who’ll reach the quarters,” he said.
But based on the FIBA Asia results in the recent years, China, Korea, Iran and Kazakhstan seem to have the lock on quarters berths from their groupings. Advancing from the other bracket could well be the Philippines and three from among Lebanon, Qatar, Jordan, Japan and Chinese Taipei.
The draw proceedings, helped staged by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officials Oscar Moreno, Ricky Vargas, Sonny Barrios, Moying Martelino, Jay Adalem and some members of the 1973 ABC Philippine champion team, went very well.
The first team drawn was Jordan, followed by Chinese Taipei then Saudi Arabia. Curiously, all three teams went to Group A.
China and South Korea were then drawn to Group C followed by Japan, Qatar and Lebanon to Group B. Iran was the third team drawn to Group C then Kazakhstan, SEA I and India to Group D.
Then, the Philippines was given time to pick its group.
It took Reyes and his staff a little over five minutes to decide they will be with Jordan, Chinese Taipei and Saudi Arabia in Group A. (SB)
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