NOW Gilas Pilipinas buckles down to the real work.
After winning its two friendlies, the Philippine men’s team shifts its total focus to old rival Chinese Taipei which it battles in the opener of the 31st FIBA Asia Cup starting on Tuesday.
The Filipinos lost to the Taiwanese in their last meeting during the Asia Cup qualifiers, 91-84, last February at home in a game where the host survived a furious Gilas comeback fueled by Justin Brownlee.
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Back then, Chinese Taipei didn’t have the Hinton brothers – Robert and Adam - in the roster, but will have the Los Angeles-based siblings as part of its 12-man unit in the quadrennial showcase.
That isn’t lost on Gilas coach Tim Cone.
“Taipei beat us the last time we played them. They had two young (NCAA) Division 1 players in the Hinton brothers and those guys are making an impact on that team,” said Cone.
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Adam, the older of the two at 22, has been playing solid for Cornell University, while 19-year-old Robert was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year with Harvard University as he submitted averages of 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
The two suited up for the country in the just concluded Jones Cup where Chinese Taipei lost to eventual champion Strong Group Athletics, 67-56, behind a strong third quarter run anchored by Andre Roberson and Rhenz Abando.
Cone said Gilas got a glimpse at how Chinese Taipei played in the Jones Cup where it finished runner-up behind Strong Group.
“They (Taiwanese) played six or seven games and they actually dominated the Jones Cup. They lost to Strong. And that’s the only game Taiwan lost,” noted the Gilas coach.
Also back to torment Gilas is naturalized player Brandon Gilbeck, Mohammad Al Bachir, a former naturalized player now playing as a local, and Lin Ting-Chien.
The Taiwanese hit 15 three-pointers during the qualifiers – which marked its first win against the Philippines in 12 years – while Gilbeck had eight points, eight rebounds, and five block shots as the man the middle for the team.
“They definitely have the personnel. It wasn’t a fluke that they beat us. So we really have to be prepared for them,” said Cone.
“The old saying is that we'll take it one game at a time at this point and that's true. And the reason you say that it’s because it’s always true,” the Gilas coach added. “Right now what's on our minds is Taiwan. You have to get through them.”
Also with the Philippines in Group D are New Zealand and Iraq, which they play one after the other following the Chinese Taipei game.
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