Gilas goes for win no. 2 vs Iraq
While the whole country is still reveling in Gilas’ 96-87
triumph over defending FIBA Asia Cup titlists China last Wednesday, Coach Chot Reyes put
everything in perspective: “It’s only one win,” he told the
team amidst the celebration in the dug
out.
He went on: “The important game is against Iraq.”
With a victory over the Iraqis in their next tiff this tonight at 9 p.m, the Philippines will be assured of at least a spot in the second round and if it can sweep its group can be seeded straight to the quarterfinals (the FIBA Asia Cup’s format calls for all four group topnotchers to advance straight to the last 8).
First things first, though, Gilas must defeat Iraq.
If the recently concluded William Jones Cup was any indication, the Iraqis have vastly improved from their whipping boys status in past FIBA tournaments.
Iraq finished with a respectable 4-5 record in that tilt and among their conquests was its former political rival Iran—a team it had not beaten in recent memory.
The Iraqis opened their campaign there with an 86-68 thrashing of India then followed that up with a 79-70 victory over Japan. After suffering successive losses to Canada, Taiwan Blue (seniors), they then nipped Taiwan White, 80-76, but then bowed to Gilas by only nine points, 75-84. They came back with a vengeance against the transitioning Iranians, 90-75 and lost in their final two encounters against podium finishers Korea and Lithuania.
Iraq placed seventh out of ten participating nations— once again avoiding a cellar finish, which is a testament to how far the team has progressed over the years.
In their opening match in Lebanon, they trounced Qatar, 75-66 to join Gilas atop the Group B leaderboard. Just about half a decade ago, this would not have been the picture.
There are only three new faces in the Lebanon contingent from the Taiwan group, but the most noticeable is that Iraq is parading a different naturalized player.
DeMario Mayfield— whom the Iraqis used in the Jones Cup—is actually an import who plays on the club team Al Nift in the Iraqi pro league and was tapped because their real naturalized cager, Kevin Galloway, was still seeing action in the Lebanese league where he suits up for Homenetmen.
Galloway played point guard in college at Texas Southern University and saw action in the NBA D-League for the Idaho Stampede before trying his luck overseas. He played in the Gulf Coast circuit and was eventually recruited by the Iraqis as their naturalized player.
In two previous FIBA events—the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge and the 2017 West Asia Basketball Association (WABA) Championship, Galloway averaged a near double-double (21.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG) plus a high assist clip (5.2APG).
Against Qatar last Wednesday, he garnered 16 markers (5/5 2ptFGs, 2/7 3ptFGs), 8 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and only a solitary turnover in a no relief effort in the win. He only committed one foul.
Of course the Qataris are not brandishing a powerhouse line-up with some of its aging veterans now meshing with some decent young blood, but still it was a yeoman’s performance that must have gotten the Gilas coaching staff a little on edge seeing how this 29-year-old journeyman who had stints in Finland, Japan and Qatar could lead his team. —
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