GILAS Pilipinas goes through what coach Chot Reyes refers to as its "final test" when it faces Ivory Coast in the first of three friendlies it will play before it opens its campaign in the FIBA World Cup.
Gilas Pilipinas vs Ivory Coast tune-up preview
The national team plays the Elephants at 7 p.m. behind closed doors at the Philsports Arena, with naturalized player Jordan Clarkson and 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto playing together with the rest of Gilas Pilipinas for the very first time in its World Cup preparation.
“This is the first time we’ll play as a complete team with Kai and Jordan [Clarkson],” Reyes said. “Ngayon lang natin makikita ang lahat na magkakasama.”
Ranked no. 42 in the world, Ivory Coast is led by naturalized player Matt Costello, the 6-foot-10 Michigan State center out of who briefly played for the San Antonio Spurs in 2017.
The Elephants arrived in Manila on Thursday for the tune up match before proceeding to Jakarta, Indonesia where they will play in Group G together with Iran, Brazil, and defending champion Spain.
Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Ange Kouame was born in Ivory Coast.
After Ivory Coast, the Filipinos will test the mettle of Montenegro next on Sunday.
The 18th ranked Black Mountain also came over on Thursday headed by Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic.
Gilas clashes with Mexico for its final friendly on Monday. The 12 Guerreros, ranked 31st in the world, are set to arrive on Saturday.
Reyes said the friendlies are the final test for the remaining 16-man training pool before the coaching staff decides to name its final 12 on the eve of the opener.
“That’s going to be the final test. The way we structured the tune-up games is a replica of the teams that we’re going to play, European, African, and Latin-South American teams,” he stressed.
The Philippines is in Group A along with Italy, Dominican Republic, and Angola.
Previously, Gilas played tune-up matches against Estonia, Finland, and Lithuania in a three-week European training camp, and then tackled Iran and Senegal in a mini-pocket tournament in China.
Meanwhile, both Montenegro and Mexico are playing at the Mall of Asia Arena in the company of Egypt and Lithuania in Group D.
The three tune-up matches the Filipinos will play here come seven days before the World Cup officially kicks off at the Philippine Arena and Mall of Asia Arena.
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