Gilas’ modest goal is to make it to the eight-team quarterfinals at the FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta but after losing to Lebanon last Wednesday, the road is now tougher for coach Chot Reyes’ youthful crew playing without a naturalized import and reinforced by only three PBA veterans.
If Gilas loses to New Zealand tonight, the Philippines will finish the group stage in third place with a 1-2 record. That will advance Gilas to a KO game against the second placer of Group C for a spot in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Group C is made up of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan and Syria. Iran and Japan will face off today with the loser sliding to second place. If Japan plays like it did in crushing Kazakhstan, 100-68, last Wednesday, Iran will end up battling the Philippines Mohammad.
If Gilas beats New Zealand, the Philippines will end up second in Group D and arrange a showdown with the Group C third placer, either Kazakhstan or Syria, for a quarterfinals ticket. Kazakhstan and Syria will square off today. It’ll be an easier route to the quarterfinals for Gilas.
Japan is bannered by former Toronto Raptors forward Yuta Watanabe and naturalized player Luke Evans while Iran’s mainstays are NBA veteran Hamed Ehaddadi, Washington Wizards’ 2013 second round pick Arsalam Kazemi, former Meralco PBA import Mohammad Jamshidi, German league import Behnam Yakhchali, two-time World Cupper Sajjad Mashayekhi and 6-9 bruiser Mohammed Hassanzadeh. Either Japan or Iran will be a tall order for Gilas whose PBA veterans are Kiefer Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks and Poy Erram.
If the Philippines survives either Japan or Iran and qualifies for the quarterfinals, it will square off with the Group A topnotcher next on July 21. Group A is composed of defending champion Australia, Indonesia, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. NBA veteran 7-1 Thon Maker leads the Boomers, backed by Sudanese Wani Lodu Swaka Lo Buluk and 6-11 Sam Froling. If Gilas winds up second in Group D and beats either Kazakhstan or Syria, it will advance to engage Group B first-placer South Korea in the quarterfinals. Group B is composed of South Korea, China, Chinese-Taipei and Bahrain. The semifinals will be on July 23 with the final and playoff for third on July 24.
Host Indonesia is required by FIBA to enter the quarterfinals for an automatic ticket to the FIBA World Cup next year. If it fails, Indonesia will not play in the World Cup despite co-hosting the group stage with Japan and the Philippines. Serbian Rajko Toroman was previously Indonesia’s head coach and basketball program director but has left the country and returned to Belgrade. Despite rumors that Toroman may coach a college team in Manila, he said there is no offer on the table at the moment.
