NEARLY a decade since Australia and New Zealand got formally included in all things FIBA Asia, the rest of the region is still trying to catch up with the two basketball powerhouses from the Pacific.
Such is the daunting task that the 36th ranked Gilas Pilipinas faces once again as it tackles New Zealand and Australia, ranked no. 25 and no. 6 respectively, in the next window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers.
READ: Newsome ready for Gilas grind as he recovers ahead of schedule
While Gilas Pilipinas team manager Alfrancis Chua admitted that sometimes the two team’s inclusion in the federation still bothers him, he also knows it’s the reality that the rest of Asia has to deal with now and it’s up to them to try and keep up.
“Alam naman natin na talagang malakas yung parehong team,” Chua said in statements published in the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' official website.
“Yung New Zealand, if you saw their game against Australia [in the first round], dikdikan ang laban at nagkatalo na lang sa three points. The level of their game, masyado ng mataas.
"Naitatanong ko nga minsan kung bakit nasama silang dalawa sa FIBA Asia e. Kaya lang andiyan na ’yan, so wala na tayong magagawa,” he continued.
Gilas takes on New Zealand on February 26 at the Mall of Asia Arena before hosting Australia on March 1 in the same venue.
For Chua, they’re gonna need all the help that they can get as they try to pull off an upset or two in the coming window.
That starts by taking advantage of playing in a familiar arena, as he hopes to see the fans come in droves to boost the team’s morale.
“We need the help of the fans again para mas ganahan maglaro yung mga players natin,” he said. “Kasi mabibigat talaga yung kalaban.”
Brownlee's still got magic
While Gilas will still not complete with Kai Sotto out for the next two games, the squad will once again be banking on the heroics of Justin Brownlee against these two giants.
READ: Kai Sotto won't play in Gilas matches vs Australia, New Zealand
In the first two games of the World Cup Qualifiers, Brownlee was as lethal as ever – averaging 21 points and five assists a night in those back-to-back wins over Guam.
Though he’s got mileage at age 37, the outspoken Ginebra governor and SMC sports director, reiterated his confidence with the beloved naturalized player.
“We still trust him. The players still like him. And yung chemistry ng team, pag nandoon siya, gumaganda.”
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