MANILA, Philippines, June 2 ------ Gilas will play India in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers for Asia at the MOA Arena on July 3. Last February, the Philippines beat India, 88-64, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the second window. After the third window, the top three finishers of Group A where the Philippines is bracketed with India, New Zealand and South Korea advance to play in the second round of three more windows.
The Philippines will open the third window with a road game against New Zealand in Auckland on June 30. Gilas lost to the Tall Blacks, 88-63, at the Big Dome last February. The first round of three windows initially scheduled a home-and-away series between two countries but changes were made due to the pandemic. The first window was cancelled last November and games were compressed in the second window where India and New Zealand played each other twice in Manila. South Korea forfeited its games in the first and second windows, losing the chance to play in the World Cup next year.
SBP deputy executive director Butch Antonio said Gilas will play a two-game friendly with the Korean national squad in Anyang on June 17 and 18 to warm up for the third window. Korean coach Choo Il Seung will call the shots for the host team. Antonio said after the third window, Gilas will play in the FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta on July 12-24.
Gilas opened training camp yesterday with several invited players in the pool still not in attendance. Dwight Ramos, for instance, has committed to play for Gilas but will only arrive from abroad next week. UP’s James Spencer is in Australia and it’s not certain when he’ll be back. Antonio said the plan is to form a training pool of 16 to 17 players. The collegiate players invited to the pool were Rhenz Abando, Carl Tamayo, Ange Kouame, RJ Abarrientos, SJ Belangel, Dave Ildefonso, Kevin Quiambao, Sherwin Concepcion and Spencer. Justine Baltazar, who has completed his UAAP eligibility, may join the pool depending on his schedule with Pampanga in the NBL. Thirdy Ravena, William Navarro and Francis Lopez are committed to play for Gilas.
Source: philstar.com
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