• GILAS PILIPINAS OPENS ASIA CUP CAMPAIGN VS CHINA FRIDAY

Published on September 8, 2012

Smart Gilas Pilipinas takes on China Friday to start its campaign in the fourth FIBA Asia Cup in
Tokyo, Japan.

Next up for Team PHL in Group A elimination play is Lebanon on Saturday then Uzbekistan and Macau on
the next two days.

Barring any disaster, the Nationals are likely to make the knockout stage, starting with the Final
Eight where they will be up against one of the qualifiers from the other Group B composed of the
host team, Iran, Chinese Taipei, Qatar and India.

The Nationals have sized up the Iranians, the Taiwanese, the Japanese and the Lebanese in their
title run in the recent Jones Cup.

And Gilas was also to see Qatar up-close in a tune-up match at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig
Saturday night.

The Qataris, frequent Philippine visitors like the Lebanese and the Jordanian teams, proceed to
Tokyo from Manila.

The bulk of the Gilas team departs Manila for Tokyo Wednesday. Sonny Thoss follows the following
day.

Coach Chot Reyes looks forward to the Asia Cup, saying it provides them an experience quite like the
FIBA Asia Championship.

And Reyes has no complaint with the schedule where his team is tested right away in their first two
games versus the Chinese and the Lebanese.

“It is what it is. It’s a good preparation for us,” said Reyes.

It is still uncertain whether the Chinese are fielding their Olympic team or their Team B. But
whichever, they are likely to be a major force.

Lebanon team officials have said they are fielding a better team in Japan than the one they brought
in the Jones Cup.

Long-time Lebanese star Fadi El-Khatib is expected to be among their reinforcements in the Tokyo
joust.

The Nationals automatically qualify for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship meet if they place in the
top 3 in the Asia Cup. If not, they need to go through the SEABA (Southeast Asian Basketball
Association) qualifier.

Talk n Text utility player Jarred Dillinger is joining the core of the Jones Cup champion team in
the Asia Cup.

Dillinger is back as a national player following his tenure with the PHL squad that placed eighth in
the 2009 FIBA Asian Championship in Tianjin, China. (SB

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