Gilas brace for Taiwanese fightback

Gilas Pilipinas leaves for Chinese-Taipei today with a mission of improving its slate in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Friday at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium.

With a 3-1 win-loss slate just behind unbeaten Australia in Pool B, Gilas are already qualified in the next round but still need to string as many wins as possible owing to a carry-over format in the second phase.

That explains why head coach Chot Reyes constantly reminds his wards not to treat the game lightly, especially with the home team desperate to improve its 1-3 mark and exact vengeance on the visiting Filipinos.

In the first window last November, the Philippines escaped the gritty Taiwanese with a narrow 90-83 home victory at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“This last window is all about improving our position in the next round. So we’re not even thinking about the fact (that) we’re already qualified,” said Reyes, anticipating a furious fightback from the Taiwanese.

After Taipei, Gilas will host Australia, which will parade Milwaukee Bucks players Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker, on July 2 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“We’re thinking about getting Taipei first. We’re not thinking of anything. We just have all our energy on getting Taipei first.”

With a carry-over format in the second round, a decent standing in the first round would be of huge help when the Philippines clashes with Iran, Qatar and Kazakhstan of Pool D in the crossover round.

Having just a couple of complete practices at the Meralco Gym, Gilas will finally have a four-day, full-swing training before the anticipated match on June 29, which Reyes wishes to be just enough to help them duplicate a win.