Gilas to hurdle Champs Cup elims

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas should have no problem sailing past the elimination round of the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup which fires off this Saturday at the Philports Arena in Pasig City.

“Definitely, we don’t expect to be eliminated after the elims,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios in yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave.

The SBP official was asked for his personal assessment of the forthcoming tournament where Smart Gilas will get the chance to test the strength of the teams from the Middle East.

He said Smart Gilas falling into the lighter of two brackets should give them the perfect opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals. It’s in that knockout stage where anything can happen.

“From what I’ve learned Iran and Lebanon are the tough teams here,” said Barrios who was joined in the forum by former national coach Joe Lipa.

The former commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association said Lebanon will have the 7-foot-2 NBA veteran Loren Woods to make things tough inside the paint.

“And it has three or four of its national players in while Iran has won the last four Champions Cups with two different ballclubs,” said Barrios.

“It’s a good thing we didn’t land in the same bracket as theirs. So, if we top our group then we play the No. 4 team of their group in the quarterfinals,” he said.

But it’s no reason for the Philippines to take it easy because teams can play for positioning that even the stronger ones can end up facing the hosts in the quarterfinals.

With the Philippines in Group A are the KL Dragons of Malaysia, Al Ittihad of Jedah, Saudi Arabia, Duhok Sports Club of Iraq and Applied Science University of Jordan.

In the other group are perennial champion Mahram of Iraq, West Arab League champion Al Riyadi of Lebanon, 2010 runnerup Al Rayyan of Qatar, Al Jalaa of Syria and Al Shabab of the United Arab Emirates.

Smart Gilas, gearing up for the FIBA Asia Qualifying in September, will face Saudi Arabia on Saturday and Malaysia on Sunday before taking a rest the following day. Then it will be Iraq and Jordan and Tuesday and Wednesday.

Barrios said the foreign teams will start coming in today. He added that only one team from each bracket will be eliminated, leading to the knockout stages, and the finals.

He called on the fans to come and watch the matches live because it’s a chance for them to see high-caliber action. Gallery tickets are pegged at P10 each, and the best seats at P250.

“I really hope the fans don’t pass up on this one,” he said.