Gilas mulls matches vs African fives

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes is now looking at tune-up matches with African teams in preparation for their stint in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

If the goal is to beat the African teams in the world joust, the Nationals, of course, must learn how to handle the tall, athletic African players.

“Watching the Afro games tells me one thing – This should be our next tune-up series: Tunisia, Angola, Nigeria, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire,” said Reyes on his Twitter account.

“We may lose all games to them now; but it will definitely help us playing these quick, athletic, tall teams,” Reyes also tweeted.

Other Afro teams that impressed the Filipino mentor were Morocco, Algeria and Egypt.

Reyes has been following the FIBA Africa Championship, scouting potential rivals in the world meet.

If they’re to contend for a spot in the World Cup second round, Reyes said they must hurdle African rivals.

Reyes said he’s no illusion beating teams like the US, Argentina and Spain.

In the World Cup, the 24 competing teams will be divided into four groups of six teams each in the elimination play. The top four from each group advance to the knockout stage.

Only six teams in Yugoslavia (five times), US (four), Soviet Union (three), Brazil (two), Argentina (one) and Spain (one) have won the world championship.

Only eight other teams have made the Top Three, one from Asia but none from African.

The Philippines was the lone Asian team gaining podium finish in 1954 in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Composing the team were Caloy Loyzaga, Larry Mumar, Frank Rabat, Nap Flores, Mariano Tolentino, Pons Saldana, Ben Francisco, Bayani Amador, Florentino Bautista, Tony Genato, Ramon Manulat and Rafael Barretto with Herr Silva as coach.

Other teams which have won a silver or a bronze are Russia, Greece, Turkey, Chile, Germany, Lithuania and Croatia.