MANILA, Philippines - The 27th FIBA Asia Championship, set to fire off Thursday, promises to be a cutthroat competition not just between titleholder China and former two-time champion Iran as seven others are tipped to contend prominently for the three World Cup berths staked in the regional cage wars.
Besides China and Iran, considered to vie for the coveted slots are host team Gilas Pilipinas, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Japan and Chinese Taipei.
For Gilas coach Chot Reyes, China and Iran are still the top favorites while Gilas Pilipinas is among the dark horses in the continental world eliminator slated Aug. 1-11 at the MOA Arena in Pasay and Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
“Obviously, Iran and China are head and shoulder above anybody else in the competition. And I think we’re on equal footing with Korea, Jordan, Qatar and Kazakhstan,†Reyes told The STAR.
“I’m not overlooking Japan and Chinese Taipei. Taipei is now really strong because of Quincy Davis. They’re like Kazakhstan which has become a lot better because of the addition of a player (naturalized point guard Jerry Johnson) that they need,†Reyes added.
Reyes said Gilas Pilipinas, Korea, Jordan, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Japan and Chinese Taipei are teams that can beat each other in any given night.
“Pantay-pantay ’yan (They’re of the same level),†said Reyes of the teams tipped to crowd China and Iran in the fight for Top Three in the 10-day, 15-nation meet.
If the Nationals want to improve on its fourth-place finish in the last Asian championship, they must beat the Koreans, the Jordanians, the Qataris, the Kazakhs, the Japanese and the Taiwanese.
“Our focus against Jordan and Qatar is rebounding. They’re big, and we have to make sure that they don’t kill us off the boards,†said Reyes.
“They will try to overpower us. Mamaniin nila tayo (They will try to dominate us), and we have to be ready for that,†added Reyes.
Gilas Pilipinas lost to Jordan in their semifinals matchup in the 2011 Asian joust in Wuhan, China, and bowed to Qatar in their battle for third place in the 2012 FIBA Asia Cup in Tokyo.
“As for Korea, Japan and Taipei, we play the same. We have to stay in front of them and make sure they don’t break us off a dribble. They will rely on quickness and shooting,†said Reyes.
The Koreans, the Japanese and the Taiwanese are among the best teams playing the traditional Asian brand of basketball.
Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei all made the knockout plays in the Wuhan meet with the Koreans eventually finishing third, the Japanese seventh and the Taiwanese eighth.
Chinese Taipei is expected to improve with its acquisition of Davis, the former Tulane U star later strutting his stuffs in pro leagues in Cyprus, Venezuela, China and Taipei.
Davis and the Taipei team underscored their good potential in placing second behind Iran in the recent Jones Cup. It was the host team’s best finish in the tourney in seven years.
Gilas Pilipinas, Jordan, Chinese Taipei, Qatar and Japan fight it out for the four quarters seats in the A-B bracket while China, Iran, South Korea and Kazakhstan are expected to breeze to the knockout plays from the C-D group.
Reyes, however, firmly believes he made a sound decision in choosing the group where they are now.
“Iniwasan talaga natin ang Kazakhstan (in Group D). Kasi in case we lose to Kazakhstan, we’ll then face China, Korea and Iran. So we might not even make it past the second round of competition,†said Reyes.
Obviously, Reyes has high hopes Gilas Pilipinas will do well in their group then have a good shot at the Final Four in a quarterfinals match-up with either Kazakhstan or Korea.