GILAS Pilipinas will face conquerors from old battles in the opening round of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in August.
This as the Nationals drew Angola, Dominican Republic and Italy as opponents in Group A during Saturday night's World Cup draw ceremonies at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gilas previously battled Italy and Angola in the 2019 WC in Foshan, China while it faced Dominican Republic in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament last year.
Results didn't go the Filipinos' way each time.
Powered by NBA players, the Italians crushed the Filipinos, 108-62, while the Angolans scored an 85-81 overtime verdict in Group D hostilities.
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The Dominicans, for their part, shut the door on Gilas' Tokyo Olympics bid with a 94-67 shellacking in the Belgrade qualifiers.
With the opponents determined, Gilas coach Chot Reyes and his staff can formulate a more specific program for the team, which is expected to be bannered by Fil-Am NBA star Jordan Clarkson.
Powerhouse USA and Greece, meanwhile, lead the high-profile teams set to fly to Manila to play for the group stages.
The Americans and the Greeks, possibly powered by NBA stars, were drawn in Group C along with Jordan and New Zealand.
Serbia was bunched with China, Puerto Rico and South Sudan in Group B while Egypt, Mexico, Montenegro and Lithuania drew another in Group D.
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The country will host Groups A and B at the Big Dome and Groups C and D at the MOA Arena.
Meanwhile, co-host Japan will host Germany, Finland and Australia in Group E and serve as hub for Group F's Slovenia, Cape Verde, Georgia and Venezuela, both in Okinawa.
Third host Indonesia will be the site for Group G composed of defending champion Spain, Iran, Ivory Coast and Brazil as well as Group H's Canada, Latvia, Lebanon and France. (OL)
