Gilas Pilipinas takes on Japan today
Games today:
SM Mall of Asia
10:30 a.m. – Qatar vs. Jordan
12:45 p.m. – Iran vs. India
3 p.m. – Chinese Taipei vs. Hong Kong
5:45 p.m. – Kazakhstan vs. China
8:30 p.m. – Philippines vs. Japan
10:30 p.m. – Korea vs. Bahrain
The Gilas Pilipinas will try to shake off the sting of its heartbreaking loss to Chinese Taipei when it kicks off the second round of the preliminaries with a bout against Japan today in the 27th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Gilas suffered its first loss of the tournament last Saturday and did so in agonizing fashion as it lost a huge 13-point lead in the fourth canto.
The loss had dire consequences for the Gilas as it set them up with a potential quarterfinal match-up with reigning champions China.
However, that might be looking too far ahead for the Gilas as it must first hurdle Japan today and then Hong Kong and Group B top-notcher Qatar in this round.
Along with the aforementioned teams, also composing Group E are Chinese Taipei and Jordan.
Making up Group F are two-time Asian champions Iran, South Korea, and China from Group C and Group D qualifiers Kazakhstan, Thailand, and India. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio
