Gilas, mabigat na laban ang haharapin sa 2023 FIBA

ni MC - @Sports | September 02, 2021

Nahaharap sa mabigat na laban ang Gilas Pilipinas para sa layuning makapaglaro sa 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Sa ginanap na bunutan noong Martes ng gabi, nalagay ang Pilipinas sa Group A kasama ang New Zealand, Korea, at India para sa first round ng qualifiers at nakaiwas ito sa Group B kung saan naka-bracket ang Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Australia at China.

Nalagay naman sa tinatawag na “Group of Death” ang World Cup co-host Japan at Chinese-Taipei. Ayon kay national team coach Tab Baldwin, naniniwala siyang dapat paghandaan ng maaga ang qualifiers dahil mabigat ang magiging kalaban ng Gilas. "We're gonna be very excited to have the opportunity to play New Zealand. I've never been to India, and I think Korea will be waiting for us," wika nito. "It should be a great experience. Obviously we've lot of preparation to do to get ready for this." Magiging mabigat umanong pagsubok para sa youthful Gilas ang New Zealand, ang team na unang nag-coach si Baldwin sa semifinals ng 2002 World Championships, at ang Korea na atat na makabawi matapos matalo ng dalawang sunod sa Gilas sa Asia Cup qualifiers. "New Zealand is very different than Korea. They have faced one another as we have faced Korea, but I think with New Zealand, there's not so much familiarity. And they're a very tough, very physical team," kwento ni Baldwin.

"We know Korea is very tough. And I think Filipino fans will be very quickly thumbing through the books trying to find out the book on India as well, and they're gonna find India has a lot of talent, a lot of size, just not a lot of international experience. Each team does present something different and I believe that our scouting has to be on point and we got to be ready to dance with whatever opponent, whichever rosters come from these teams, and put our best roster out there," dagdag pa ng national team mentor.

Samantala, guest sa TOPS Usapang Sports ngayong 10 a.m. sina IPCA world champion Sander Severino, Sydney Paralympics bronze medalist Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta at National Council on Disability Affairs Board Member James Infiesto habang sa Sept. 4 ay si International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board Member Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.