RANGED against formidable opponents, Gilas Pilipinas has its work cut out for it in the FIBA Asia Cup, according to coach Chot Reyes.
“Lebanon is playing the best I’ve seen in recent years. Their team is really stacked. They’re playing very high-level basketball, it will take our best to just be able to compete with that team,” Reyes said.
“We know how tough New Zealand is, and India as you saw is no pushover as well,” he added.
Despite the odds, the Filipino cagers intend to show their worth when they take on Lebanon tonight at the Istorya Senayan in Jakarta.
The match kicking off both teams’ campaign in Group D action is set at 9 p.m.
The FIBA Asia Cup 2022 will be presented to Smart subscribers live via the Smart GigaPlay App starting July 12.
“In a basketball-crazed country such as the Philippines, Smart, through the GigaPlay app, continues to enable the whole nation in supporting the national team and witnessing their FIBA Asia journey and their bid for gold. All the Gilas hardcourt action is within reach by every Filipino fan on the GigaPlay App, powered by Smart’s fastest mobile network,” Francis E. Flores, Head of Consumer Business Group — Individual at Smart, said.
Making up the 12-man Gilas line-up is the core of the team that saw action in the third window of the World Cup Asian qualifiers, namely, Kiefer Ravena, Carl Tamayo, Geo Chiu, Kevin Quiambao, SJ Belangel, RJ Abarrientos, William Navarro, and Francis Lopez.
Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and TNT center JP Erram bolster the squad, with reigning NCAA MVP Rhenz Abando filling in the final slot vice the injured Dwight Ramos (shin splints).
The nationals battle India on Friday, before winding up their group play stint against powerhouse New Zealand on Sunday.
The Ravena brothers, Carl Tamayo, Parks, and Erram are expected to lead Gilas’ charge.
Gilas needs to top its group to clinch an outright quarterfinals berth or at least finish second or third to make it to the qualifying phase.
The Philippine five finished seventh with a 4-2 record in the last edition of the continental tilt in 2017 in Lebanon.
The Lebanese will pin their hopes on Wael Arakji, Ali Haidar, and Sergio El Darwich. — Michael Jugado
