Rivals Gilas Pilipinas, South Korea in same group at Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers

Photo from Fiba.com

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines will meet its longtime rival South Korea in an early collision course in the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.

Gilas Pilipinas and South Korea were both slotted in Group A along with Indonesia and Thailand during the draw ceremony held on Saturday (Manila time) in Bangalore, India.

Former national team captain Jimmy Alapag, who was in India during the draw, pulled out the Philippines’ name in the first draw.

The Philippines, the No. 4 team in Asia, is the highest-ranked team in Group A. South Korea is No. 5. Indonesia is Asia’s No. 16 team while Thailand is No. 21.

The Philippines lost to South Korea 118-86 in the semifinals of the 2017 Fiba Asia Cup and was relegated to the qualification round wherein Gilas eventually finished the tournament in seventh.

According to Fiba, the top two teams from each of the six groups will automatically advance to the 16-country Asia Cup.

The next four teams would be determined through a quarterfinal tournament in February 21 among the third seeds from the six groups.

China, the third-ranked team in Asia, heads Group B with No. 7 Japan, No. 10 Chinese-Taipei, and No. 25 Malaysia.

Group C is comprised of Asian No.1 Australia, No.6 New Zealand, No. 14 Guam, and No. 20 Hong Kong.

Ninth-ranked Asian team Lebanon heads Group D with No. 12 India, No. 15 Iraq, and No. 24 Bahrain.

Iran, the second-ranked team in Asia, banners Group E with No.11 Qatar, No. 22 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and No. 89 Syria.

Rounding out the field is Group F that has No.8 Jordan, No. 13 Kazakhstan, No. 18 Palestine, No. 26 Sri Lanka.