JAKARTA – National coach Yeng Guiao said the game against Syria on Friday night in the 18th Asian Games is the perfect preparation for the Philippines' match against Iran in the Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers.
The Philippines wraps up its campaign in the Asian Games on Friday night when it takes on Syria at the GBK Istora in the battle for fifth place.
"It’s also a simulation of our game against Iran,” said Guiao.
After the Asiad, this Philippine team, with minor changes, will begin preparations for a game against Iran on the road on September 13 and a closed-door match against Qatar at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on September 17.
Guiao said Iran’s former NBA player Hamed Haddadi plays a similar style as Syria’s 7-foot-2 big man Abdulwahab Alhamwi.
“Because Haddadi and their seven-footer play very similar styles, we will have a better understanding of how to play them in the Fiba window. We can make use of this experience to simulate that,” said Guiao.
The Philippines will fly home to Manila on Saturday, but they have to take care of business first against Syria.
“We are looking forward to the next challenge, the Syria game and after that, we prepare for the Fiba window,” he added.
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