Gilas Philippines, Kuwait clash in do-or-die

GUANGZHOU – Eight years after narrowly missing the gold-medal game in Busan, the Philippines returns to action in the Asian Games basketball competition today, taking on Kuwait in a knockout game at the Guangti Gymnasium.

Game time is at 7:15 p.m. with Smart Gilas Phl facing no other recourse but to hurdle its opening game or the Nationals pack their bags just a day into the games.

Coach Rajko Toroman and his troops won’t take the Kuwaitis lightly, flying here early to play two tune-up games in preparation for the KO match.

A convincing win over the Dongguan Leopards Thursday night should boost the morale and confidence of the Nationals who are hoping to end the country’s 12-year medal drought in the quadrennial meet.

Kelly Williams came through with 18 points and nine rebounds while Asi Taulava put in 15 points and the same number of rebounds as Smart Gilas Phl topped Dongguan, 79-65.

Import Jackson Vroman sat out the game but the Leopards played with one point guard reinforcement and three players standing seven-foot and above.

No official practices were allowed yesterday to give way to the opening ceremonies. Smart Gilas instead held practice in a private gym.

“The team is upbeat and ready to play,” said Toroman.

The team’s concern, however, is Japeth Aguilar, who sustained injury against Dongguan, making him a doubtful starter against the Kuwaitis.

The Serbian coach has earlier said their initial goal is to make the semifinals then they take it from there.

The Philippines hopes to achieve that with a team composed of former collegiate stars beefed up by Fil-foreign recruits Marcius Lassiter and Chris Lutz and PBA reinforcements Williams, Taulava and Sol Mercado.

Smart Gilas Phl is a dark horse in the field, featuring host and defending champion China, back-to-back FIBA Asia champion Iran and former champion South Korea.

The Nationals have an average height of 6’4 1/3 compared China’s 6’7 1/2, Iran’s 6’5 4/15, Jordan’s 6’4 5/6 and South Korea’s 6’4 6/13.

Iran’s 7-foot-4 center Jaber Rouzbahani and China’s 7-foot-2 slotman Zhang Zhaoxu are the tallest. They are among behemoths to be played by Asi Taulava, the oldest among all the players at 37.

But the Nationals should get past the Kuwaitis before they start thinking about the seeded teams.

Hong Kong goes up against North Korea, Turkmenistan battles Mongolia and India slugs it out with Afghanistan in the other knockout matches.

Games in the main draw start Tuesday. Should they make the main draw, Smart Gilas Phl plays Iran Tuesday.

The Filipinos tackle five other teams in Bracket E, needing to finish in the Top Four to advance to Final Eight which slug it out in knockout battles all the way to the championship.