FOSHAN, China — The odyssey that was marred with various setbacks and controversies reaches its climax as Gilas Pilipinas clashes with Italy in a match it can’t afford to lose when the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Basketball World Cup erupts Saturday at the Foshan International Sports and Cultural Center here.

Action fires off at 7:30 p.m. (Manila time) with the Nationals hunting for a victory that would not only kick off their chase for glory, but would also bury the bitter memories that happened in their dramatic journey back to the biggest stage of basketball.

The Filipinos literally invested blood, sweat and tears just to get in this prestigious 32-nation conclave.

They opened their campaign in the FIBA World Cup Olympic Qualifying Tournament against Japan in which star point guard Kiefer Ravena was found to have tested positive for three banned substances, prompting him to sit out for the next 18 months that left his dream of helping his country in completely shattered.

Then with Gilas trying to move on from Ravena’s shocked suspension, they got involved in a massive brawl with Australia with punches, kicks, and — yes, drops of blood — flying all over the Philippine Arena in a fateful evening of July last year.

When the smoke cleared, 10 members of Gilas Pilipinas, including naturalized player Andray Blatche and star playmaker Jayson Castro, were slapped with suspensions that threw the program off its track and cast doubts on the future of the team.

More than that, the brawl prompted head coach Chot Reyes and his assistant Jong Uichico to step down while Castro announced his retirement from international play.

When you enter here, it’s like basketball heaven. You just want to enjoy, you just want to savor the whole thing.

Now, with Ravena back in action and seasoned mentor Yeng Guiao at the helm, there’s no perfect way for Gilas Pilipinas to announce its recovery from that nightmare by posting a massive victory over Italy, a team bannered by a pair of sweet-shooting journeymen in the NBA.

Guiao and his crew landed on this bustling metropolis just an hour away from China’s third largest city — Guangzhou — Thursday morning and immediately ordered a film session and training to give Gilas a chance to feel the surroundings.

“We had a good practice, the venue was really world-class,” he told a handful of scribes as he marveled at the 15,000-seater venue that opened only last year.

“When you enter here, it’s like basketball heaven. You just want to enjoy, you just want to savor the whole thing. We’re very lucky. We’re very blessed to be part of this.”

Guiao, however, stressed that their journey wouldn’t end with stepping on the same court with the best basketball teams in the world.

They also have to walk the talk and deliver results in their second World Cup appearance after almost 40 years of absence.

The Italians may have shown traces of vulnerability, but won’t definitely be easy foes.

Handled by Meo Sacchetti, Azzurri’s key players are said to be far from their perfect shapes as they lost six of their friendly matches as part of their buildup in this ultra-tough tournament.

For one, Danilo Gallinari, the sniper from Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA, just underwent an emergency appendectomy operation and was hardly a factor in their 65-71 setback to Serbia in a pocket tournament in Shenyang.

Burly 6-foot-8 forward Luigi Datome is also nursing a knee injury and was included in the final roster despite sitting out the entire training camp while Amadeo de la Valle and Giampaolo Ricci are also doubtful to suit up due to various injuries.

Guiao said they would do everything to prevail over the Italians, knowing that a setback will definitely doom their chances of advancing to the next round and reduce them into mere footnotes in Philippine basketball history.

“I think we’re ready. We’re ready as we can be,” said Guiao, who is also had his share of injuries after gunner Matthew Wright and big man Poy Erram crashed in the final stretch of their buildup.

“We already studied the film and discussed the defensive patterns we will employ against them. Everything is set. It now boils down to our mindset come game time and how much we want the victory.”

Aside from Blatche, everybody in the roster, ranging from five-time Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo to seasoned wingman Gabe Norwood and young guns Ravena, Robert Bolick and CJ Perez are in great shape and ready to complete their quest for glory.