GAME TODAY
7 p.m. – Chinese Taipei vs Philippines
(Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium)
IT’S seemingly no rest for the weary—but that’s just fine for Gilas Pilipinas.
“That’s what being professional basketball player is all about,” National playmaker Chris Newsome said. “You have to be ready to play regardless of where and what time. You got to put your best foot forward at all times.”
Forward Dwight Ramos echoed his teammate’s sentiments, saying: “Tough schedule, but that’s just the way it is this window.”
Whether the Philippine five can hack it anew will be known when it tackles Chinese Taipei today in Group B of the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium.
Game time is set at 7 p.m.
Gilas manhandled the Chinese 106-53 when they first met last year and boasts nearly the same line-up.
Coach Tim Cone’s final 12 against the host are naturalized star Justin Brownlee, reigning eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, former MVP Scottie Thompson, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Newsome, and overseas-based standouts Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao.
Chinese Taipei fights for dear life. The Chinese drubbed Hong Kong 85-55 in the last window before falling to mighty New Zealand 64-81 last November.
Cone’s charges toughened up via a two-day training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna as they reconvened after three months and saw action in the Doha International Friendly Basketball Championship.
The Filipino cagers groped for form in the Doha tilt with a 1-2 slate—scoring a come-from-behind 74-71 victory over Qatar in their opening match before yielding to Lebanon (54-75) and Egypt (55-86).
Gilas carries a perfect 4-0 card and has qualified for the Asia Cup in August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Getting it done again against Chinese Taipei and proving its historic triumph over the Tall Blacks the last time out is no fluke when they battle anew three days later in Auckland should be a perfect ending in ushering in Cone’s Gilas era.
