China’s Kyle Anderson within the Fiba World Cup recreation towards Serbia. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
For now, Gilas Pilipinas can breathe a sigh of reduction.
All 5 different Asian groups competing within the Fiba World Cup misplaced their opening matches, protecting the race for the Summer season Olympic Video games large open.
China was the newest group to fall on Saturday, discovering itself on the nasty finish of a 105-63 blowout by the hands of Serbia at Good Araneta Coliseum.
“We’re blissful that we gained the sport ultimately,” mentioned Serbian standout Bogdan Bogdanovis, of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. “That’s what’s most essential. The primary video games are all the time powerful and troublesome however we’ve many nice guys. It’s gonna more durable however simpler on condition-wise.”
“That is how we play. I like the best way we performed particularly the younger guys, they carry lots of vitality. I’m blissful how we performed however that is simply the primary recreation,” he added.
Gilas Pilipinas’ 87-81 loss to the Dominican Republic on opening evening stays the closest consequence among the many groups jockeying for the continental quota as the opposite 5 nations misplaced by a mean of 32.2 factors.
Solely the highest-placed group per continent will get free tickets to the Paris Olympics slated subsequent yr.
Greece and Thanasis Antetokounmpo held off naturalized Jordan, who unveiled naturalized ahead Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, 92-71. Brazil, in the meantime, thrashed perennial Gilas tormentor Iran, 100-59 within the video games on Saturday.
Undermanned Latvia whipped Asia Cup Most Beneficial Participant Wael Arakji and Lebanon, 109-70, whereas cohost Japan had only a few solutions to Germany, 81-63, within the matches additionally final Friday.
Fiba will flip to the purpose distinction in video games within the occasion of a tie. Such a system helped Iran to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics again in 2019.
Gilas Pilipinas will face Angola on Sunday earlier than going up towards Italy, which is Group A’s highest-ranked squad.
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