Taipei loss hurts Gilas chances in KO stage

MANILA, Philipppines – Aside from wounded pride, the heartbreaking loss to Chinese Taipei on Saturday night opened up the possibility of facing tall odds in the quarterfinal round.

Gilas Pilipinas wound up with a 2-1 record and will face Japan, Qatar and Hong Kong in the next round in that order starting tomorrow. (see full schedule of the next round here)

“Second place in our group doesn’t mean anything. What’s important is the placing after the next round,” Gilas coach Chot Reyes told reporters after last night’s loss.

But the odds are now stacked against them. They will need to sweep those three assignments and hope that Chinese Taipei falls to have a chance at top spot.

The top team in their group will meet the no.4 team of the other group in the knockout quarterfinal match that will likely be Kazakhstan since Iran, China and Korea are shoo-ins to clinch the top three. But that relatively lighter assignment in the knockout stages is now bleak with the loss last night.

“Yes we’re very aware of that possibility [to face China, Iran or Korea at the start of the knockout stages],” Reyes added.

Still feeling the heat of the loss, the outspoken Gilas coach was not in the mood to answer a question from Taiwanese media when asked about their earlier choice of joining Chinese Taipei in Group A instead of Group D.

“I’m sick and tired of that question of Group A or Group D.  If we’ve gone to Group D then we lost to Kazakhstan then we couldn’t even go to the quarterfinals,” said a visibly irked Reyes.  

“If Kazakhstan had beaten us in Group D, we go to second round against China, Iran and Korea then we might not even go to the quarterfinals. My point is to get to the quarterfinals first then whoever we play there, we play,” Reyes pointed out to the Taiwanese reporter. “It doesn’t matter who.”

But in all likelihood, the margin of error is now zero for Gilas Pilipinas entering the second round.

Whether they like it or not, the Nationals now need to go through the giants in their quest to get back in the World Championship.   And they will need a strong support from the crowd even bigger and louder than last night to have a chance.