Gilas Pilipinas’ Matthew Wright. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
TAIPEI – Gilas Pilipinas versus Chinese Taipei is always the noisiest game in the Jones Cup Invitational.
The Taiwanese, like the Filipino fans, embrace their national team like heroes – as should be – and follow each and every game with the kind of fervor that can definitely unsettle any visiting team.
Filipino fans, meanwhile, aside from unconditionally supporting Gilas in whatever country it plays in, love playing against Chinese Taipei and rooting for a win because OFWs in this progressive island feel that it’s like putting one over their employers here.
But what really makes this 7 p.m. match at Taipei Peace Basketball Hall even more interesting is the fact that Team Philippines has a score to settle against the home side on Sunday night – and the Filipinos are also looking for some sort of momentum for a battle ahead the carries much larger stakes.
“They beat us the last time,” Gilas coach Chot Reyes said on Saturday night after scouting first half action of Chinese Taipei-Japan, which the Taiwanese won, 86-65, to get their bid off on the right foot in front of, yes, their boisterous fans.
That last time Reyes was talking of happened in 2013 in Manila during the Fiba Asia Championship at Mall of Asia Arena where the Taiwanese scored an 84-79 decision in the first round and deflated – in part – hopes of a very hopeful nation.
The Philippines, of course, went on to rebound from that setback and never lost again until the gold medal game against Iran, going on to return to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years by seeing action in Seville, Spain and even winning one game.
Reyes was very aware that the Taiwanese pulled their punches somewhat even with the handy win against the Japanese.
“As you can see behind their (Taiwanese) bench, there are still a lot of (good) players they didn’t use tonight,” Reyes, while using his lips to point out to the Chinese Taipei bench early in the third period, said.
This match is also important because both countries are in Group B together with China and Iraq in the first round of the World Cup Qualifying, and the Philippines will play Taiwan in November in this very venue.
“If we turn the ball over the same way we did against Canada, we’d be in trouble,” Reyes said. “But if we can take care of the ball and defend more intelligently, we have a great chance.”
For some Filipino fans who have been working here for years, this game is the game to win for a lot of reasons.