Gilas plays vs Jordan, Qatar in tune-up

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas will play a couple of games each against Jordan and Qatar from Sept. 8-11 in Manila for its final tune-up matches for the FIBA-Asia Championship slated Sept. 15-25 in Wuhan, China.

“We’re finalizing the details but Jordan and Qatar are coming over to play Smart Gilas in a pair of tune-up games,” said Smart Gilas manager Frankie Lim.

The upcoming matches will also mark the first time that Talk n Text reinforcements Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams and Ranidel de Ocampo will be playing with the Nationals.

Coach Rajko Toroman has given Alapag, Williams and de Ocampo a week to rest owing to their grueling PBA Governors Cup campaign.

The troika will actually join the team’s practice on Aug. 29.

“We’re hoping for more games but we take whatever we can take for Smart Gilas to practice, train and play together as a full team,” said Toroman.

Smart Gilas has played Jordan twice, winning the first, 76-74, in the final game of the group matches in the 22nd FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Pasig City last June.

The Jordanians, however, struck back with a 76-72 win in the elims of the recent Jones Cup in Chinese Taipei.

Qatar, on the other hand, defeated Smart Gilas, 71-64, in the battle for third, also in the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup.

“It would be good for us because Qatar and Jordan both have a chance to play well in Wuhan,” said Toroman.