Gilas Pilipinas’ Justin Brownlee in the Philippines’ game against Hong Kong in the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers. –FIBA
Make no mistake about it, Gilas Pilipinas will be taking the floor this Sunday night a confident bunch when it battles Chinese Taipei for its second game in the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.
But the team’s conviction will be different, thanks to a rough first quarter in the eventual blowout of Hong Kong four nights ago that had national coach Tim Cone yearning for improvement.
“Taiwan will be stronger,” cornerstone June Mar Fajardo told the Inquirer, noting Cone’s repeated reminders throughout the team’s buildup for the continental showcase being used to prime for the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
SCHEDULE: Gilas at Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers window 1
Fajardo and Cone are not wrong. Chinese Taipei put up a good fight against New Zealand before sputtering in the final frame and settling for an 89-69 beatdown in their tournament opener last Thursday.
The visitors have also proven that they’re quite the tenacious lot, threatening traditional powerhouse China in their playoff clash during the Asian Games last October.
Still, the Philippines is shaping up as a tough nut to crack as they will be playing at home. Gilas has always been an attraction on the road, with a big glut of overseas Filipino workers flocking to their games. Such was the case in Thursday’s whipping of Hong Kong.
READ: Tim Cone knows Gilas can’t play same way vs Chinese Taipei
The 7:30 p.m. clash at PhilSports Arena is also being billed as a nod to older basketball fans as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas tries to reconnect with the national team’s fanbase.
“We know that PhilSports, formerly Ultra, is a historic site for basketball games in the Philippines, as this is where they used to hold the old PBA games. And we sort of wanted to bring back that kind of culture,” said SBP executive director Erika Dy.
Justin Brownlee, who top-scored with 16 points in the win over Hong Kong is expected to star once again and further prove that even despite his aging frame, he is still worth the investment that basketball stakeholders are pouring upon him. Kai Sotto is also just as eager to annex another brilliant outing after a 13-point and 15-rebound performance that underscored this team’s youthful potential.
“I think (the Hong Kong) game will help us for the next game,” the young big man said. “I’m excited to play Taiwan as they’re a better team (than the last one) [so I’m] looking forward to it.”
“It’s awesome if we could sell it out and have everybody come support us,” Cone said of the homestand that could very well give the national basketball program the rousing 2-0 start it needs for its grand, four-year plan geared towards the Fiba World Cup and the Summer Olympic Games.
