Gilas faces tough group

By Adrian Stewart Co

Following the recent draw for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 15 in China, the Philippine men’s national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, found themselves in the Group D alongside Angola, Italy, and Serbia.

The group is expected to offer Gilas a challenge as Serbia won the silver medal in men’s basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is ranked fourth in the world; Angola is ranked 31st and holds the most AfroBasket titles, the men’s basketball continental championship in Africa; and Italy are ranked 13th in the world.

The Philippines, meanwhile, is ranked 39th.

In addition, the Philippines will be up against key players including Danilo Gallinari of the Los Angeles Clippers, Marco Bellinelli of the San Antonio Spurs, and Philadelphia 76ers center Boban Marjanović.

“Looking at Italy, Serbia and Angola, those are certainly tough teams,” Gilas head coach Yeng Guiao said in an interview with ESPN5. “We’re certainly going to be the overwhelming underdogs.” The Philippines needs at least two victories to advance to the next round./ASC, WDJ