Gilas Pilipinas’ World Cup goal: Top 16

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas has set a lofty goal of finishing in the top 16 in the 2014 Fiba World Cup.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios Tuesday reiterated the marching orders given to national coach Chot Reyes: Make the second round of the world championship in Spain on Aug. 30 to Sept. 14.

“[SBP president] Mr. Manny Pangilinan told the team he doesn’t want them to become tourists in Spain,” said Barrios during the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

In an earlier exclusive interview with the Inquirer, Pangilinan, the business tycoon who supports several sports associations, said the goal was to make it to the top 16, meaning Gilas needs to win two games during the preliminary round to advance.

Pangilinan issued that order to Reyes right after Gilas, made up of PBA stars and naturalized center Marcus Douthit, placed second in the Fiba Asia Championship held in Manila last year to earn a ticket to the worlds.

“Sabi ko, ipasok mo lang sa [I told him, just get into the] second round. Then we are in the top 16. Kahit 16th, masaya na ako [I’ll be happy with 16th],” Pangilinan said.

The other Asian qualifiers are Iran, the reigning continental champion, and bronze-medalist South Korea. “The target is to win at least two and get into the second round.

It’s definitely a high target but depending on the grouping that we will land in,” Barrios said.

Twenty qualifiers from the five continental zones (Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania) along with four wild-card participants, which the International Basketball Federation or Fiba hasn’t named yet, will be divided into four groups of six teams each.

Barrios said Reyes will attend the draw on Feb. 3 along with team manager Aboy Castro and logistics expert Andrew Teh.

They will scout one of the six venues immediately after the draw where the Nationals will be booked during the tournament.

“We want to send the best team we could send. It’s up to the silver medalists (Gilas team members) to show they’re the best for them to keep their spots,” said Barrios.

“They already have one foot in there for winning the silver, but they should not relax,” he added.

Aside from Fiba Asia mythical member Jason Castro, other members of the team included center June Mar Fajardo, forwards Japeth Aguilar, Ranidel de Ocampo, Gabe Norwood and Marc Pingris, and guards Jeff Chan, Gary David, Larry Fonacier, LA Tenorio and Jimmy Alapag.

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