GILAS Pilipinas is clinging to every last bit of hope as it battles world No.10 Italy in its final assignment in Group A of the FIBA World Cup 2023 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today, Tuesday.
The Filipinos and the Italians will be curious spectators to the curtain-raiser at 4 p.m. between Dominican Republic and Angola.
Gilas Pilipinas and the Azzurri are hoping for a Dominican win to stay in contention for Group A’s last seat to the second round. In the event the Karl-Anthony Towns-led Dominicans emerge victorious against the Bruno Fernando-bannered Angolan team, a bloodbath is expected to happen in the second game at 8 p.m. with Gilas Pilipinas, Italy, and Angola all fighting for the last spot.
For the Italians, it’s a much easier mission, needing just a victory to get past the first round.
As for the Philippines, it will be a much more complicated situation, with the hosts aiming to force a triple tie at 1-2.
Gilas Pilipinas also has to win by at least 13 points to overcome Italy’s plus-14 differential — a situation that could have been avoided if only the Filipinos didn’t lose by as many as 10 points last Sunday to Angola.
Coach Chot Reyes, however, is blocking all the distractions and has his players on tunnel vision for the game against Italy.
“We focus on what’s within our hands. There’s a game to be played on Tuesday and we’re going to come out and prepare as best we can to play a top 10 team in Italy. That’s all we can do right now,” said Reyes.
“We all know the mathematics of the situation. The first thing for us is to make sure that we come out and prepare and find a way to win that game. The quotient will take care of itself but for us, we focus on what we need to do to be able to compete against a top 10 team in the world,” he added.
Italy will go into the game raring to bounce back from an 87-82 setback to Dominican Republic.
The Azzurri are looking to contain Jordan Clarkson after failing to control Towns.
“The Philippines, like the Dominican Republic, have a single great player and all around them, there’s a good team. For sure, it’s very important to limit this player. But you cannot stop them, they’re so good, you have to limit them with teamwork and pay attention to the others because they’re all good players,” said Italy veteran Luigi Datome.
