GILAS KEENLY WATCHING KAZAKHS, INDIANS
Seeded into the preliminary round with seven other teams, Gilas Pilipinas is taking a close look at potential initial assignment Kazakhstan in the qualifying round of the 2014 Asian Games men’s basketball competition in Incheon, Korea.
Gilas also has scouts dissecting the game of the vastly improved Indian squad.
Kazakhstan and India whipped Saudi Arabia and Palestine Saturday, and are expected to roll to a second victory while switching assignments Sunday. They then battle for top seeding in their group Monday.
Team Phl is keenly watching these teams as from their group will come the Nationals’ opening preliminary-round assignment at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Hwaseong Sports Complex.
The Filipinos can’t take for granted their initial match as up next for them is a tough match with FIBA Asia Championship title holder Iran. Gilas packs its bags right away if it loses both matches.
“It’s a tough bracket. How do we fall in that group (Group E), I don’t know,” said Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes.
China and Chinese Taipei were drawn in Group C, Korea and Jordan in Group D, and Japan and Qatar in Group F. Each group will be joined by a qualifier in the prelims.
Kazakhstan is a one-time Asiad bronze medal winner, achieving the feat versus a dispirited Philippine side following a heartbreaking last second loss to host Korea and cold-blooded gunner Lee Sang Min in the semifinals in Busan in 2002.
The Kazakhs, a tall team with a slew of three-point gunners and a combo naturalized guard in JJ Johnson, return to the international scene following their eighth-place finish in the last FIBA Asia Championship in Manila.
Gilas Pilipinas knocked Kazakhstan out in the Manila meet, fashioning out an 88-58 rout in their quarterfinals showdown.
The Indians are hopeful of giving the Kazakhs a tough fight for top slot in their qualifying-round group play with their impressive showing in the Wuhan Asia Cup highlighted by their upset of China – their first ever over the Asian king pin.
In the same tourney, the Indians, under American coach Scott Flemming, pushed the Iranians and the Filipinos to the wall.
India is fielding the very same team in the Asian Games, led by top guns Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, Amrit Pal Singh and Amiyot Singh.
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