Must-win to boost Gilas PH bid

JUST let them come.

This, in a nutshell, was how Gilas Pilipinas guards Jimmy Alapag and Jayson Castro view the probable quarterfinal matchup against either Asian force Iran or defending champion China in the 27th Fiba Asia Championship.

“At this point, we’re going to cross paths with that team one way or another,” said the 5-foot-7 Alapag on the possible encounter with two-time champion Iran in the knockout stages. “What’s important is we stay together, improve, and be ready for the next round.”

Castro, a penetrate-first playmaker, agreed, saying they’re trying to forget, for now, the looming specter of facing Iran or China.

“We’ll face the problem of playing against them when we get there,” said Castro, who has been using his father’s surname William in the tournament that offers three slots to the 2014 Fiba World Cup in Spain.

“Right now, we’re in a must-win situation in the next three games in order to avoid them,” added the Talk ‘N Text star point guard in the PBA.

Gilas will carry a 1-1 win-loss record going into the second phase of the group stages after losing the battle for Group A top spot to Chinese Taipei.

The Philippines tackles Japan at the start of the second round today at Mall of Asia Arena and then meets Qatar and Hong Kong in the next two days.

From hereon, every time the national team of PBA stars loses a game, the possibility of facing either Iran or China in the quarterfinals grows stronger.

“Yes, we’re very aware of that possibility,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes. “Second place in our group doesn’t mean anything, what’s important is the next round.”

They are aiming for the No.1 spot after the two-phase group stage to set up a quarterfinal duel against the fourth-ranked squad in the other bracket, most likely Group D first-placer Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan will be 2-0 going into the next group phase.