Gilas-PH battles Qatar

Game Today

(Al Gharafa Sports Club Multi Purpose Hall, Doha, Qatar)

7 p.m. – Philippines vs Qatar

DOHA – Just like the last time Gilas Pilipinas played Qatar, national coach Yeng Guiao expects a tough encounter when the Philippines guns for a crucial win in the sixth and last window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers Thursday evening at the Al Gharafa Sports Club Multi Purpose Hall here.

The national team needed a big fourth quarter run to beat Qatar, 9281, last September 17 and Guiao said things will be the same in the rematch.

“Tinalo natin ‘to pero pahirapan ‘to,” said Guiao. [We beat them before, and it’s again going to be a tough game.]

Game time is 7 p.m. Thursday here and Friday midnight in Manila.

The Philippines is currently at fourth spot with a 5-5 record in Group F behind Australia (9-1), Iran (7-3) and Japan (6-4). At fifth place is Kazakhstan (4-6), while Qatar is at sixth (2-8).

A setback to Qatar will reduce the Philippines to a 50-50 chance of making it to the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China. Gilas will face Kazakhstan in another crucial encounter in Astana on Sunday.

Guiao said that the players are aware of this situation.

“In my talks (to the team), I don’t even try to emphasize the urgency. Sa akin, alam mo naman na eh,” said Guiao. “It’ll just add unecessarry pressure.” [They know what’s at stake.]

One thing going for the national team for the two games is naturalized player Andray Blatche.

Guiao said the 6-foot-10 Blatche is adjusting well on and off the court, a good sign when it comes to chemistry and playing under a new system.

“It’s a pleasant surprise for me – since this is the first time that I’m coaching him, and I personally don’t know him – that he genuinely likes his teammates, and his teammates genuinely likes him,” said Guiao.

With veteran center Raymond Almazan still recovering from a sprained ankle, and with Roger Pogoy serving out the last of a five-game ban imposed by FIBA for his role in a fracas with Australia last year, Guiao said it was a no-brainer to add college star Thirdy Ravena in the lineup.

“He provides a role for us, he’s defensive stopper. He’s a defensive option on the scorers on the other side. He can also be a threat on offense, but his main role is to defend,” said Guiao.