With or without its star player in Wael Arakji, Gilas Pilipinas will still go hard when it battles Lebanon in the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Friday at the Philippine Arena.

Gilas coach Chot Reyes the looming absence of Arakji will hardly affect their preparation for the prestigious tourney that serves as a gateway to the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila next year.

Reports have it that the Lebanese squad already departed Beirut without the crafty swingman, who broke the hearts of the Filipinos in their fourth window encounter last November.

Aside from Arakji, the FIBA Asia Cup Most Valuable Player who earned an National Basketball Association Summer League invite with the Dallas Mavericks in 2019, also missing in Lebanon's final roster were veteran Ali Haidar as well as naturalized player Jonathan Arledge former NBA player Norvel Pelle.

Arakji, Haidar and Pelle were all part of the initial 24-man pool that Lebanon submitted to the International Basketball Federation.

After playing in Bulacan, the Lebanese will wrap up their campaign in the qualifiers with a crucial match with New Zealand in Auckland.

Still, Reyes knows that the Lebanese remain a solid force to be reckoned with.

"We're playing the best team in Asia," Reyes said, saying that the Lebanese had already dislodged Iran and China as the top squad in Asia.

"Lebanon finished second in the last FIBA Asia Cup against Australia and Australia is not in Asia, so for me, the No. 1 team in Asia today is Lebanon. This is a good test for us."

In their previous encounter, the Lebanese gave the Filipinos a tough challenge with the 28-year-old Arakji burying clutch baskets to seal an 85-81 victory.

The Filipinos paraded a powerhouse cast bannered by NBA player Jordan Clarkson, rising star Kai Sotto, Philippine Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson and Dwight Ramos.