ASIAD GROUP OF DEATH

Phl faces China, Kazakhstan in elims

As if all its shortcomings weren’t enough, Team Phl faces a tougher challenge down the road: It was thrown into a Group of Death with China and Kazakhstan on its late reentry in the 18th Asian Games men’s basketball tournament that fires off Aug. 18 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

With Team Phl’s reentry on Sunday, the local organizing committee regrouped the 14-team roster and made a new schedule where the Nationals are now to play the Kazakhs at 10 a.m. on Aug. 16 and the Chinese at 4 p.m. on Aug. 21.

The Nationals were originally grouped with Iran, Syria and the United Arab Emirates in Group B while China and Kazakhstan were with Palestine in Group D. But Palestine withdrew its participation.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio confirmed the development finalized by the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee yesterday.

It’s a short elimination play where the top two from each group make the knockout round (Final Eight).

Thus a single win by Team Phl either against China or Kazakhstan could mean outright entry into the knockout stage. But the Filipinos face tall odds against both the Chinese and the Kazakhs with their tall lineups.

China, the seven-time champ in the last 10 editions of the quadrennial meet, has its deep pool of seven-footers surrounded by rugged forwards and pesky guards while Kazakhstan, a Final Four finisher thrice in the last five Asiads, has a lineup seasoned by years of playing together, led by sweet-shooting 6-9 forward Anton Ponomarev and do-it-all 6-7 forward Anatoliy Kolesnikov.

And if Team Phl finds a way to make it past the elims, it most likely faces either South Korea or Mongolia in the quarterfinals.

Iran is left with a light grouping with Syria and UAE in Group B while Japan and Qatar are with Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong in Group C. “Humirap ang dadaanan sa elims pa lang,” said coach Yeng Guiao, though remaining committed to bring out the best from his team in the Jakarta meet.

All members of the 14-man pool were present in Day Two of practice Tuesday night but Christian Standhardinger, Poy Erram and Kobe Paras just observed the session from the sidelines.

Sweating it out were Paul Lee, Stanley Pringle, James Yap, Chris Tiu, Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan, Asi Taulava, Maverick Ahanmisi, Don Trollano and Gilas cadet Ricci Rivero.