HANGZHOU - An outright quarterfinals slot will be at stake when unbeaten Gilas Pilipinas and Jordan cross paths on Saturday at the 19th Asian Games.
The top two teams of Pool C clash at 5:30 p.m at the Zijingang gymnasium, with the winner automatically advancing to the Final Eight.
So far, the Philippines and Jordan had been dominant in their group, each carrying similar 2-0 records.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone is bracing for a battle of attrition against a Jordan side that has TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as its top player.
"We know we have to play better against Jordan," admitted Cone after the national team struggled with its shooting in an 87-72 win over Thailand the last time.
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As for Hollis-Jefferson and the rest of Jordan, Cone said, "They're going to be tough, what can you say."
Hollis-Jefferson is expected to renew his PBA rivalry with Gilas counterpart Justin Brownlee, who he beat out for the Best Import award of the last Governors' Cup while steering the TNT Tropang Giga to the championship by dethroning the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
A loss for Gilas meant being relegated to the quarterfinals classification where it has to battle the nos. 2 and 3 teams of the three other groups in order to clinch a berth into the Final Eight.(RG)
