GAME TODAY
(King Abdullah Sports City)
2 a.m. – Chinese Taipei vs. Philippines
NATIONAL coach Tim Cone is wary of their foes—for good reason.
“Taiwan beat us last time we played them and they added two young Division 1 players and the Hinton brothers. Those guys are making an impact on that team,” Cone said. “So, you know, they definitely have the personnel. It wasn’t a fluke that they beat us.
“We have to be really prepared for them. Obviously, New Zealand is always gonna be tough, no matter what team they send and then Iraq,” he added.
Whether Gilas Pilipinas can bury the sting of a loss to the same foes the last time out will be known when it takes on Chinese Taipei early today as the FIBA Asia Cup comes off the wraps at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Game time is set for 2 a.m. (in Manila) in Group D play of the prestigious continental tilt formerly known as the ABC Championships and FIBA Asia Championship.
The combatants split their two matches in the qualifiers, with the Philippine five ripping the Taiwanese 106-53 in February 2024.
Chinese Taipei rebounded with a 91-84 victory early this year.
The likes of naturalized star Justin Brownlee, reigning eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, former MVP Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, and Chris Newsome will be counted upon by Cone to deliver anew.
Cone is hoping that Perez can make a big impact in their bid to get back at their opponents.
“I’ve always felt that CJ is a game changer. That’s why he’s on the team. He’s the kind of guy to come out and change the whole tempo of the game,” Cone said. “Every player we have has a certain role and a certain thing that he adds to what we want as a collective group.
“CJ can come off the bench and really just change the game at times.”
The Filipino cagers notched two friendly victories in their build-up for the Asia Cup, holding off the Macau Black Bears 103-98 at home last week before following it up with a 75-61 triumph over Jordan behind closed doors last Sunday.
The Taiwanese used the Jones Cup to toughen up and finished a strong second to Strong Group Athletics.
“They (Taiwanese) played six or seven games and they actually dominated the Jones Cup,” Cone said. “They lost to Strong and that’s the only game Taiwan lost.”
Chinese Taipei gunslinger Chun Hsiang Lu will not play for the team due to an ankle injury but still boasts of Ting Chien Li, Mohammad Gadiaga, Chien Hao Ma, and United States-based Hinton brothers Robert and Adam.
A huge crowd support from the Pinoys in the seaport city and the motivation to redeem themselves should be more than enough for Cone and his charges to pull off a victory.
Listen to Newsome.
“Everyone knows we lost to Taipei last time and we’re going to be hungry to get that one back,” he said.
