OFWs to boost Gilas vs Chinese Taipei

Gilas Pilipinas will have a crowd cheering them on versus Chinese Taipei in its home court at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium on Friday.

Filipino workers around Taipei and from cities as far as Kaohsiung came just to see the Nationals in a meet-and-greet session after Gilas’ practice session Tuesday at the Jhong Jheng Sports Center.

Most of them already have tickets and promise to rally behind Team Philippines in their 7 p.m. setto with the Taiwanese.

There will also be a group of Filipinos flying in from the Philippines, including a contingent from the PBA led by commissioner Willie Marcial and the board members.

“We’ll provide morale support,” said Marcial.

“All the PBA teams will be represented except NLEX and Columbian Dyip as governors Rod Franco and Bobby Rosales can’t come. Chairman Ricky Vargas is attending an event in Thailand but TNT KaTropa alternate governor Patrick Gregorio will come with us,” said Marcial.

The PBA group departs for Taipei at noon today.

TNT’s Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Troy Rosario and RR Pogoy, Alaska’s Calvin Abueva and Carl Bryan Cruz, San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar, Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood, Phoenix’s Matthew Wright, Meralco’s Baser Amer, Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon, Blackwater’s Allein Malicsi, naturalized player Andray Blatche and Gilas cadet Troy Rike make up the 15-man Gilas pool for the Taipei game.

After practice Tuesday, these players made themselves available to the fans in a meet-and-greet session arranged by Smart.

According to an ESPN5 report, Smart is also planning to host a viewing party in partnership with the Philippine consulate for those who weren’t able to buy tickets for the game.

Tickets for the game have long been sold out as Taiwanese are also basketball fanatics. Some Filipinos shelled out astronomical amount to avail tickets from the black market or scalpers.

Filipino fans have always been present even in Team Philippines’ games in the William Jones Cup — Taipei’s annual international invitational tourney.

And they’re likely to be there in the Gilas-Taipei rematch that is crucial for both teams in Group B play in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Four games today usher in matches in the third window of the WC Asian eliminator.

China plays host to Korea while New Zealand hosts Hong Kong in Group A matches while it’s Syria versus India and Lebanon opposite Jordan in Group C games. —