Gilas ends long tuneup vs Kazakhs

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas will play its 17th and final tuneup game against Kazakhstan tonight, hoping for a decisive win that will give the Nationals the morale-boost and momentum for the 27th FIBA Asian Championship that unwraps Thursday at the MOA Arena in Pasay and Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The Nationals warm up versus the Kazakhs in a My Phone-sponsored faceoff at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Since its formation last month, Gilas Pilipinas has played 16 tune-up matches, winning all but five of them.

The Nationals made good impression in matches against Lithuanian and New Zealand rivals but disappointed their coach with a lethargic showing against the PBA Stars at the MOA Arena Wednesday.

“Our performance Wednesday (against the PBA Stars) was a step back. I hope things would be different Friday,” said coach Chot Reyes.

Gilas Pilipinas played flat in its first outing after its 10-day New Zealand training, needing a decisive fourth-quarter charge to repulse the PBA Stars, 99-87.

Meanwhile, words are out China might reactivate veteran player Wang Zhizhi for the Manila meet with fellow former NBA player Yi Jianlian getting hurt in training.

With Yi flown back to Beijing, Wang suited up, going 4-of-6 from the field and 4-of-8 from the stripe for 12 points and four rebounds to lead the Chinese past the New Zealand squad in a friendly in Taiyuan Wednesday.

Wang was not included in the final roster the Chinese submitted to FIBA Asia for the Asian joust. China, however, can change its lineup in the team managers’ meeting on the eve of the tourney with a corresponding cash penalty.

Greek coach Panagiotis Giannakis earlier named to his Final 12 Yi, Zhou Peng, Wang Zhelin, Han Shuo, Liu Wei, Chen Jianghua, Wang Shipeng, Liu Xiaoyu, Sun Yue, Li Muhao, Zhang Bo and Li Xiaoxu.

The Chinese play the Tall Blacks one more time today in Luoyang before flying to the Philippines. 

In Manila, Gilas Pilipinas and Kazakhstan test each other’s mettle in their first match-up in a long while.

The Gilas mentor welcomes this opportunity to play the Kazakh team, an old rival which is likely to stand on Gilas Pilipinas’ path in the knockout stage of the Asian world qualifier slated Aug. 1-11.

The tune-up also provides Gilas Pilipinas the opportunity to shake off its lousy performance against the PBA Stars and build momentum going to the FIBA Asia tournament proper.

Gilas Pilipinas takes on Saudi Arabia to start its campaign in the Asian joust at the MOA Arena Thursday.

“We can’t comprehend why we played that way Wednesday. We’re just out of sync,” said LA Tenorio.

The Nationals hope to regroup and regenerate positive vibes in their faceoff with the Kazakhs led by star center Anton Ponomarev.