Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
GILAS Pilipinas shifts its preparation for the 2023 FIBA World Cup into high gear come August as it flies to China for a five-day pocket tournament.
The national squad arrived in Manila on Monday after spending more than two weeks in Europe where the team played six tune-up matches against European teams.
This time, the Filipinos will be facing Asian powerhouse teams Iran and Lebanon, as well as African squad Senegal in the pocket tournament slated on August 2-6.
The tournament serves as the national squad’s last leg of heavy training overseas, before eventually plunging into action in the group stage play against the Dominican Republic on the FIBA World Cup opening day on August 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The team’s other group stage opponents feature Angola and Italy, with both games scheduled at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“(We’re) trying to stay sharp, that’s the important thing as we continue to develop from lesson we learned, to improve, then prepare for the tough games in China series in which we’re going to play full national teams again,” Reyes told One Sports’ Carlo Pamintuan.
Gilas is hoping that Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson will be able to join the team in China.
Clarkson, a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year awardee, has recently agreed to a new three-year, $55 million deal with the Jazz, ending weeks of speculation on his next NBA destination.
Clarkson’s vast experience in high-level basketball easily puts him in a “plug-and-play” status once he rejoins Gilas in China.
After a few days of rest, Gilas Pilipinas will resume its practices on Thursday. — Richard Dy
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