Aug 29, 2023

Gilas players remain hopeful of World Cup campaign

WHEN there is hope, there is life.

Clinging on such mantra, members of the embattled Gilas Pilipinas team remains positive about the team's campaign in the FIBA World Cup.

Roger Pogoy and Kiefer Ravena both kept an affirmative outlook despite the challenging scenario facing the national team heading to its all-important encounter against world no. 10 Italy on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

"May laro pa e, so hindi pa rin kami susuko," said the TNT Tropang Giga shooting guard.

Ravena shared the same sentiment.

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"We can't be emotion at this time when we still have one game left," stressed the guard formerly of NLEX.

The Philippines found its back against the wall after losing a tough one against Angola, 80-70, on Sunday, and go 0-2 in its campaign in Group A.

Though things are not yet lost for Gilas as it still has Italy for its final opponent, the Filipinos need to beat the Azzuri by 13 points or more to have a possible shot of advancing in the next round of the group phase.

Undefeated Dominican Republic also has to beat Angola for a possible three-way tie for the no. 2 spot among the Azzurri, Gilas, and Angolans.

While the scenario doesn't appear to favor the host, Ravena said focus at the moment is to prepare against Italy. Nothing more, nothing less.

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"We have to focus on the present which is preparing for Italy," he added. (RG)