Battle for survival

Game Tuesday:

(King Abdullah Sports City)

12 a.m. — Philippines vs Saudi Arabia

As much as Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone loves the fighting spirit and the “never-say-die” mantra of his team, he would rather see the Filipinos dictate the tempo of the game as early as possible.

Gilas couldn’t afford the same slow start it had in the group stage when it takes on host Saudi Arabia in the knockout round for a quarterfinal spot in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup on early Tuesday (Manila time) at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

Cone wants a change in the way Gilas handles the first half to boost its chances of keeping its title hopes alive.

“Well, I think that, you know, you always want to get off to a good start. And, you know, we’re just going to have to bring more defense and intensity in the beginning of the basketball game,” the 67-year-old mentor said heading into Gilas’ 12 a.m. encounter with the Saudis.

The Nationals, ranked 34th in the world, saw themselves down to a couple of double-digit deficits in their losses to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.

They even trailed by six at the end of the opening period before banking on a third-quarter rally spiked by Dwight Ramos to dispose of 92nd-rated Iraq in a much-needed, 66-57, win Saturday to end their run in Group D.

“But, you know, it’s tough when you’re playing on your heels and playing from behind all the time, which we did against Chinese Taipei. And we did it again against New Zealand. But, you know, what I like about our team is that we just don’t quit,” Cone said.

“We just keep coming. And back home, we call it the never-say-die attitude. We have that. I think that’s very evident on this team. And we hope that that will be the one that will get us forward.”

However, playing catch-up against Saudi Arabia could be disastrous.

The host nation gave quarters-bound and unbeaten China a scare and then got through Jordan for a confidence boost before routing India by 25 points for a No. 2 finish in Group C.

Although Saudi Arabia has been on the losing end of the two teams’ last three meetings, Cone knows anything could happen, especially when dealing with a revamped and now experienced opponent.

“Obviously, we don’t want to rely on that (never-say-die spirit) all the time. But we do need to get off to better starts,” he said.

Gilas also faces a health concern after Calvin Oftana sustained a Grade 1 right ankle sprain against Iraq.

Although considered a mild case, the forward’s status for Tuesday’s game is doubtful.

He writhed in pain on the floor while clutching his right ankle after he stepped on the foot of Iraq’s Ihab Al-Zuhairi with 3:19 left in the fourth period. Oftana was assisted back into the bench, where he stayed for the remainder of the game.

If Gilas, which last won the crown in the prestigious continental basketball tilt back in 1985, gets through Saudi Arabia, it will set up a tough quarterfinal showdown against three-peat-seeking Australia.