BUOYED by a big win the last time out, Gilas Pilipinas is out to complete a two-game sweep of sixth window play and wind up its campaign in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers on a high.
Whether the nationals can get the job done will be known when they take on Jordan tonight in Group E play at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue.
The match is set at 6 p.m. at the 55,000-seat venue, with Gilas seeking a big follow up to a 107-96 victory over Lebanon three days ago that hiked its mark to 9-5.
New naturalized player and Ginebra do-it-all import Justin Brownlee drew praises from coach Chot Reyes after leading the Filipino cagers with 17 points, four rebounds and five assists against the Cedars.
“Of all of Justin’s skills, he shoots the ball well, he defends, he penetrates, and he has a lot of technical skills but the one skill that I appreciate is that he is a great teammate,” Reyes said.
“Great teammates make the players around him better and that is his greatest skill,” he added.
Aside from Brownlee, Reyes tapped reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson and June Mar Fajardo to banner his 12-man line-up against Jordan.
Also making the roster are Japan B. League standouts Thirdy and Kiefer Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and Jordan Heading and pro league stars CJ Perez, and Jamie Malonzo, and Ateneo big man Mason Amos.
La Salle star big man Kevin Quiambao will suit up tonight vice Calvin Oftana.
Prized 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto (Japan), Carl Tamayo (Japan), naturalized center Kouame (recovering from malaria), and Japeth Aguilar (MCL) have been ruled out for the final window, while Pogoy was added to the unavailable players due to bone bruise on his foot.
The Philippine five tripped Jordan 74-66 in Amman when they last met last November.
Freddy Ibrahim will be counted upon by Jordan, which drubbed India 98-63 in Bangalore yesterday, against Gilas.
Jordan clinched a World Cup slot after New Zealand’s 110-63 thrashing of Saudi Arabia also yesterday.
