Gilas likely to pick Saudi as first opponent in FIBA-Asia

MANILA, Philippines - In all likelihood, Gilas Pilipinas will choose Saudi Arabia as initial assignment in the 27th FIBA Asia Championship slated Aug. 1-11 at the MOA Arena in Pasay and Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

As host, Team Philippines has the luxury to pick its preliminary-round grouping and the sequence of its games in the first round of the prelims of the World Cup qualifying tourney.

Coach Chot Reyes is likely to choose Saudi Arabia for a warm-up game before tackling the tougher Chinese Taipei and Jordan quintets.

Saudi Arabia is the lowest-ranked team in Group A, competing in its first FIBA Asia Championship since the 2005 edition of the biennial meet where it placed eighth.

The Gulf team has played in a total of only seven Asian jousts with a best finish of third place in Japan in 1999.

It was seventh in its initial FIBA Asia stint in 1989, ninth in 1991, sixth in 1993 and 1995 and finally made the semis, placing fourth in 1997.

Saudi Arabia played a total of 53 games, winning only 28 for 52.83 percent compared to the Philippines’ 122-65 win-loss mark, Jordan’s 47-41 and Chinese Taipei’s 104-66.

The top three teams in their group advance to the second round playing the top three from Group B composed of Japan, Lebanon, Qatar and Hong Kong.

Gilas looks to finish first or second in this bracket for a lighter quarterfinal match-up probably against Kazakhstan or South Korea. The idea is to avoid an early knockout clash with China and Iran.

A game against Saudi Arabia could provide the Nationals a warm-up and momentum for the tougher matches versus the Taiwanese and the Jordanians.

Handled by coach Lofti Chikhaoui, the Saudi five features Ahmed Al-Hosawi, Ahmed Samater, Fahad Belal, Jaber Kabe and Mohammed Al-Sager as starting unit. The team’s second stringers are Mohammed Al-Marwani, Hashem Al-Fotawi, Fawaz Gassas, Mohammed Al-Mutairi and Marzouq Al-Muwallad.

Meanwhile, Marcus Douthit scored 18 points and Gabe Norwood added 13 as Gilas Pilipinas fashioned out a come-from-behind 74-63 win over Birstono Jazz-Diremta Friday night in another tune-up game in their Lithuanian training.

Gary David and Jeff Chan contributed nine and seven markers, respectively, for the Nationals who made it two in a row following an 81-76 victory over the Neptunas team.

“(We) shot only 3/20 3s, but found ways to stay in the game. Still a lot of work to do,” said Reyes on his Twitter account.

Gilas played catch-up basketball most of the way, having a hard time keeping up with Jazz-Diremta’s big players.

Over in Perth, Australia, the Chinese national team drubbed the Australian Boomers, 61-55, in Game One of their You-Yi Games series.

Veteran center Wang Zhizhi topscored with 17 points.