HARD luck as the Nationals were in the initial group play of the 2023 FIBA World Club, there remains a battle to be fought for Gilas Pilipinas.
Pending the results of the separate games of China and Jordan Wednesday, coach Chot Reyes' troops are still in the running for Asian top honors and the chance to represent the region in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The Paris dream is still there which, in all likelihood, the Nationals can pursue in the World Cup classification round.
But it would be all over should either China or Jordan find a way to pull off a gargantuan task of winning big Wednesday and sneak into the WC Round 2 with a superior tiebreak points.
China is to battle Puerto Rico at 8 p.m. at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum while Jordan is to play the USA at 4:40 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
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The Chinese are looking to force a logjam at second place with Puerto Rico and Sudan at 1-2 behind Serbia while the Jordanians eye the same with New Zealand and Greece behind USA.
It's a tall, tall order for both the Chinese and the Jordanians. And so expectations are high the rumble for No. 1 spot among the Asian teams would now be fought in the classifications for No. 17 to 32 spots.
With a head start is Japan as it would carry over a 1-2 slate as the Japanese upset Finland in group play. The Philippines, Iran and Lebanon all wound up at 3-0.
All teams play two matches each in the consolation round.
The first match for Gilas is the No. 3 team in Group B which is likely South Sudan or Puerto Rico. Game time is at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Big Dome.(SB)
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