Gilas Pilipinas is through to the second round. Photo from Fiba.com
CHANGSHA CITY, China – Gilas Pilipinas will face Japan to start its second round schedule in the Fiba Asia Olympic Qualifier on Sunday at Changsha Social Work College gym here.
Game time is at 4:45 p.m. with the Filipinos seeking a third straight win overall and maintain their mastery of the Japanese, whom they have conquered so many times in the recent past.
The Japanese have a much shallower bench, with their game revolving around Jojie Takeuchi and NBA veteran Yuka Tabuse.
On Monday, the Philippines takes the first of a projected two shots at defending champion Iran at 11:45, before closing out against a tall India side on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
Gilas owns a 75-60 victory over the Japanese in the Jones Cup in Taipei last month, where Terrence Romeo got the best of the former Phoenix Sun Tabuse on the way to scoring a team-high 16 points.
The Filipinos were also without Andray Blatche in the Jones Cup.
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