THE Gilas Pilipinas men’s 3x3 team faces a familiar foe when it sees action in the qualifying draw of the FIBA Asia Cup in Singapore on Thursday.
The quartet of Ralph Cu, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Chris Koon, and Sean Alter will tangle with Thailand in the second of the two games they will play on the final day of the qualifiers at the OCBC Arena.
The ninth seeded Filipinos kick off their campaign against no. 22 Maldives before taking on the 15th ranked Thais later in the day.
READ: Juan GDL, Eriobu give assist to new-look Gilas 3x3 for Asia Cup
Thailand will be parading the same roster which won the 3x3 gold during last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, in Panthawat Techasamran, Freddie Lish, Noppachai Thongpool, and Chanatip Jakrawan.
The same Thai unit is actually coming off a recent stint in the 3x3 Champions Cup where it pulled off a 21-15 upset of FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup champion Lithuania.
The Philippines, Thailand, and Maldives are in Group A, with the best team after the qualifiers advancing to the main draw where it will join top seed and 3x3 power Mongolia and no. 8 Chinese Taipei in Pool A.
The Gilas team has been practicing for almost two months since it was formed by coaches Kirk Collier, Patrick Fran, and JJ Espanola.
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