CHANGSHA – The Japanese admit they’re the clear underdogs versus Gilas Pilipinas in their faceoff at the start of the second round of the elims of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.
“Andray Blatche was not in the Jones Cup. They (the Filipinos) have got them now. They have become a lot better. We’ll just try out best,” said Japanese ace playmaker Yuta Tabuse.
Tabuse himself sees a tough matchup with the crack Filipino guards.
In the Jones Cup, Terrence Romeo and Jayson Castro completely overshadowed the former NBA player with the former firing away a game-high 16 points and the latter dishing out a game-best five assists.
Tabuse just couldn’t forget Romeo who beat him out badly in a number of one-on-one fastbreak plays.
“He’s such a good player. I’m looking forward to play him again,” said Tabuse.
Gilas Pilipinas placed second to Iran in the Jones Cup with a 6-2 win-loss mark as against Japan’s 2-6 card for eighth place among nine teams.