Smart Gilas kailangang talunin ang Egypt para pumasok sa semis

DUBAI--Upang makapa­sok sa semifinal round, ka­i­langan munang talunin ng Smart Gilas Pilipinas ang Al Jazeera ng Egypt sa quarterfinals ng 21st Dubai Invitational dito sa Al Ahli Indoor Stadium.

Isang beses lamang napanood ni Serbian coach Raj­ko Toroman ang Al Ja­zee­ra laban sa national team ng Uni­ted Arab Emirtaes.

“Of course it’s not so bad, I saw how they play and I saw what they are capable of although I really know no­thing about their basketball,” sabi ni Toroman.

Matapos matalo sa kani­lang opening game, tatlong sunod na panalo ang kinuha ng Nationals upang tumapos na may 3-1 baraha.

Ang pag-entra sa semis ang magiging layunin ng Smart Gilas sa pakikipag­ha­rap sa Al Jazeera, ayon kay Toroman

“They were also the strongest opponent of Al Ri­yadi, I saw their game. They were up by 11 points with seven, eight minutes be­fore the end of the game but Al Riyadi won it on experience and quality players,” ani Toroman sa mga Egyptians. “They’re not so tall but they are very aggressive. Sometimes they’re dirty and it will be very difficult to play them.” Ang iba pang quarterfinal pairings ay ang Group A top seed Al Riyadi ng Lebanon kontra sa Group B No. 4 Champ­ville ng Lebanon, Group A No. 2 Mahram ng Iran laban sa Group B No. 3 Zain ng Jordan at Group A No. 4 United Arab Emirates national team kontra Group B No. 1 Al Jalaa ng Syria.

“We have to be more aggressive and very smart if we want to win. They are not a high quality team like Zain, Al Riyadi and Al Jalaa but they have some special warrior spirit and we have to be on the same level if we want to win,” dagdag ni Toroman.