Game vs New Zealand crucial for Gilas PH

Olympic Qualifying groups.

Team Philippines landed in a very tough bracket in the 2016 Fiba Olympic Wildcard tournament, drawing world No. 5 France and New Zealand in Group B in the event to be held in Manila on July 4 to 10.

Gilas Pilipinas will be up against the likes of NBA superstar Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs when the Filipinos clash with France.

The 18 teams were divided into six groups of three teams each, and for the Filipinos to advance to the next round, they must at least win a game in their group.

There will be two groups playing in the Philippines, with Group A being composed of Senegal, Canada and Turkey.

Tournament format calls for the top two teams in each group making the crossover semifinals, with only the champion earning a slot to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

France is expected to top the first phase with Boris Diaw and Nicolas Batum also suiting up, leaving the Filipinos with no choice but to hurdle the Kiwis.

Canada and Turkey are the favored sides coming from the other group, and if the Filipinos finish No. 2, Gilas would most likely be clashing with the Canadians and Andrew Wiggins for a berth in the gold medal game.