GAME TODAY
(King Abdullah Sports City)
12 a.m. – Saudi Arabia vs. Philippines
WHEN the clock strikes midnight today, Gilas Pilipinas is hoping it will be the start of its Cinderella story.
But to stand a fighting chance against host Saudi Arabia, coach Tim Cone’s charges should not fall into a lackadaisical start anew.
“You always want to get off to a good start and we’re just gonna have to bring more defense and intensity at the beginning of the basketball game,” Cone said. “It’s tough when you’re playing on your heels and playing from behind all the time, which we did against Chinese Taipei, and then we did it again against New Zealand.
“Every basket is important or crucial. That’s what we’re going to expect from ourselves going forward,” he added.
Whether Cone’s squad will heed his challenge will be known when the Filipino cagers square off with the Falcons in a do-or-die game in the FIBA Asia Cup at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
The no-tomorrow tiff is set for 12 a.m., with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals opposite defending two-time champion Australia.
The Philippine five dropped its first two outings in pool play in Group D against Chinese Taipei (87-95) and New Zealand (86-94) but atoned for them with a 66-57 triumph over Iraq last Saturday to stay alive in the prestigious continental tilt formerly known as the ABC Championship and FIBA Asia Championship.
The Nationals will pin their hopes on the likes of naturalized star Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, reigning eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, former MVP Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, and young guns Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo.
Having a solid start should also rouse another expected pro-Pinoy crowd at the venue while a sustained charge and fiery finish should prop up Gilas’ bid.
“Our crowd really elevates our game. When we start playing well, they go crazy. That really lives the spirit that we have and that’s something we just got. It’s two-pronged. In other words, we also feel the pressure because we want to satisfy our crowd so much,” Cone said. “They’re evident there. Sometimes we get a little tight and don’t play as free and easy and we’ve got to kind of learn how to get over that as a group.
“But when we start getting things going, it really elevates the game of everybody and we kind of have to settle our guys down a little bit but it’s an amazing thing.”
On the other side of the world—in basketball-crazy Manila—fans wait for their team’s fate.
