TAIPEI - Gilas Pilipinas resumes chase of a return stint in the FIBA World Cup when it squares off with Chinese Taipei in a rematch in group plays in the Asian WC qualifiers at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium here Friday.
Coach Chot Reyes said the Nationals must be at their utmost best as he anticipates a tough challenge against the home team that is hard-pressed to win to boost its own bid.
"This is their qualification game. If they beat us they get into the next round, so we know that Chinese Taipei is going to throw everything at us. It's incumbent upon us to be just as ready and sharp as well," said Reyes on an ESPN5 report.
While Australia (4-0) and the Philippines (3-1) are assured of passage into the next round, Chinese Taipei (1-3) is barely half-game up on Japan (0-4) in their fight for the last slot from Group B.
June Mar Fajardo, Jayson Castro and Terrence Romeo lead 11 PBA players that will team up with naturalized player Andray Blatche in the Gilas squad that will look to repeat its 90-83 win over Chinese Taipei in their initial matchup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last November.
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Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Troy Rosario, Jio Jalalon, Gabe Norwood, Matthew Wright, Allein Malicsi and RR Pogoy complete the Gilas cast that faces with the home team at 7 p.m. before an expected sellout crowd.
But Gilas will have its own cheering crowd.
There's a group of Filipinos that flew in from Manila Thursday, led by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and some members of the PBA board.
"We'll provide morale support," said Marcial.
The PBA group, including league vice chairman Dickie Bachmann and governors Robert Non, Alfrancis Chua, Patrick Gregorio, Mert Mondragon, Erick Arejola and Raymond Zorrilla, joined Gilas in dinner on the eve of the match.
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The Gilas bench chieftain expressed satisfaction on the progress they gained in their four-day training here.
"You can see mentally that they're a lot more attuned with what we're trying to do. Admittedly, there are still a few things we need to work on, but overall I'm satisfied with the way we're progressing," said Reyes.
"I like what I saw from the scrimmages. The flow is not as smooth as we want it to be, that's leading to some of the turnovers. But otherwise, I like the energy and engagement. Hopefully that's enough to beat a very determined Taipei side," Reyes added. (SB)
