Panlilio says Gilas will be ready

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is bracketed with familiar rivals Chinese-Taipei and New Zealand but has to do research on mystery contender Iraq in the first round of eliminations at the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah on Aug. 5-17. The draw was held in Jeddah last Tuesday with Gilas landing in Group D.

SBP president Al Panlilio said yesterday Gilas will be ready to battle. “Not an easy group but at least, we know two of the three teams,” he said. “I think it’s better we’ve played Chinese-Taipei and New Zealand. I’m sure we’ll be ready.”

Gilas’ first game will be against Chinese-Taipei on Aug. 6 then after a one-day break, will face New Zealand on Aug. 8 and finish the round with Iraq on Aug. 10. The top three of four groups will advance to the playoffs with the four first placers seeded to the quarterfinals. The second and third placers will figure in knockout cross-pairing games to determine the four other quarterfinalists. Group A is made up of Qatar, Australia, South Korea and Lebanon while Group B is composed of Guam, Japan, Syria and Iran. In Group C are China, Jordan, India and Saudi Arabia.

The Philippines lost to both Chinese-Taipei and New Zealand in the third FIBA Asia Cup qualifying window last February. Chinese-Taipei bowed to Gilas, 106-53, in the first window in Manila in February last year and New Zealand was beaten by the Philippines, 93-89, in the second window also in Manila last November. But Chinese-Taipei got back at Gilas, 91-84, and New Zealand did the same, 87-70, in the third window.

Iraq made it to the FIBA Asia Cup with India in a three-way Western region qualifying tournament last March. Iraq lost a 97-77 decision to India but defeated Bahrain, 85-72, to book a ticket to Jeddah. Iraq is led by naturalized player Demario Mayfield, a 6-5 swingman who received his Iraq passport in 2017. Mayfield, 33, has played as an import in Saudi Arabia, Bolivia, Kosovo, Netherlands, Italy and Venezuela. In the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, Mayfield averaged 20.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and a league-high 9.4 assists.