GUANGZHOU—Iran head coach Veselin Matic wasn’t bluffing when he picked unpredictable Japan as the strongest contender in their 16th Asian Games men’s basketball bracket in the second round.
The Japanese proved the Asian champion’s coach right by nipping the Iranians, 57-56, Wednesday night for their second consecutive win in Group F at the Huangpu gymnasium here.
Smart Gilas Pilipinas, with a 1-1 record after crushing Qatar, 90-68, also Wednesday, now gets the tough job of stopping the Japanese tonight.
“Japan is the best team in our group,” said Matic after his crew whipped the Filipinos, 65-48, on Tuesday. “The Japanese didn’t bring their best player but they are still the team to beat.”
The Filipinos, who lost to the same Japanese squad, 74-84, in the last Jones Cup, are the rank underdogs even in the absence of high-scoring Japanese gunner Takuya Kawamura in the Asiad roster this time.
Still, the sharp-shooting Japanese boast a powerful core made up of 6-foot-9 twins Kosuke and Joji Takeuchi, forwards Tomoo Amino, Kenta Hirose and Shunsuke Ito and former Phoenix Suns point guard Yuta Tabuse.
“This is a team which loves to run,” said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman of the Japanese. “We have to keep up with their transition plays.”
He said the Nationals will bring the same offensive ploy they used against the Qataris while hoping that Greg Slaughter will remain an inside threat, along with Asi Taulava and Kelly Williams.
Smart Gilas manager Frankie Lim said outside shooting will be decisive for the Filipinos, who will lean on guards JVee Casio, Chris Tiu, Marcio Lassiter, Mark Barroca and forward Mac Baracael.
“They’ve (Japanese) improved over the summer,” said Matic, who almost lost to Japan in the Jones Cup. “They are certainly the favorites to top our group.”
A victory over Japan will move the Filipinos in strong contention for the top two spots in the crossover quarterfinals.
Smart Gilas is trying to avoid Asian Games champion China and South Korea, leaders in the other bracket, in the quarterfinals.
In other games Wednesday, South Korea (2-0) walloped Jordan, 95-49, while China (2-0) clobbered North Korea, 98-62.
Should Smart Gilas land in the top two, it will most likely set up a quarterfinal meeting with any one from among Jordan (1-1), North Korea (0-2) or Mongolia (1-1).