Road blocks await Gilas

It won’t be easy sailing for Gilas in the third FIBA Asia Cup qualifying window. Although coach Tim Cone’s charges are unbeaten in four games over two windows, their next games will be on the road against teams itching for revenge.

Gilas demolished Chinese-Taipei, 106-53, in the first window at the PhilSports Arena last February. They will meet again on Feb. 20, this time with Chinese-Taipei hosting. It won’t be the same lineup that Gilas crushed in their initial clash. Chinese-Taipei brought in 7-0 naturalized player Brandon Gilbeck and reclassified former naturalized recruit 6-2 Mohamad Al Bashir Gadiaga as a local to beef up their roster for the second window. Gilbeck had 15 points and 13 rebounds in Chinese-Taipei’s 85-55 romp over Hong Kong but was limited to eight points and four rebounds in the 81-64 loss to New Zealand. Gadiaga shot 18 points against Hong Kong and 14 against New Zealand.

Gilbeck, 27, played at Western Illinois and in 2019, led the NCAA D1 in blocks. He saw action in Denmark, Italy and Canada before settling in Taiwan. Gilbeck was naturalized last July, receiving his certification from the Ministry of the Interior and the Sports Administration. Gadiaga, 26, was born in Japan to a Senegalese father and American mother. He was raised in Taiwan and played at the Shih Hsin University. Initially, Gadiaga was enlisted by Chinese-Taipei as a naturalized player replacing Quincy Davis. But an appeal was made to FIBA to consider him a local since he had spent most of his life in Taiwan. The appeal was granted, paving the way for Chinese-Taipei to tap Gilbeck as a naturalized player. Gilbeck is more known as a rim protector and defensive specialist while Gadiaga is a combo guard. In two qualifying games, Gadiaga averaged three assists and shot four-of-13 from three. He normed 13.9 points at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year.

New Zealand tweaked its lineup for Chinese-Taipei four days after losing to Gilas. Tyler Harrison was benched as coach Judd Flavel added 6-9, 18-year-old Carter Hopoi and six-foot, 32-year-old Shea Illi to the lineup. In their first qualifying battle, New Zealand trounced Chinese-Taipei, 89-69, on the road but in their second outing, the Kiwis’ margin of victory was slightly slimmer in Christchurch. Gilbeck and Gadiaga didn’t play in the first game but saw action in the second.

The Kiwis pulled their punches in the home win over Chinese-Taipei. Corey Webster scored 25 points in 30:56 minutes against Gilas but only nine points in 17:50 against Chinese-Taipei. Taylor Britt played 29:35 minutes against Gilas and 14:01 against Chinese-Taipei.  For sure, New Zealand will come out with guns blazing in the Gilas rematch on Feb. 23, looking to avenge the Kiwis’ first-ever loss to the Philippines before their home fans. Chinese-Taipei will try to do the same with Gilbeck and Gadiaga in harness. Although Gilas is safely qualified to the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 5-17, Cone will attempt to preserve the Philippines’ pristine record despite the road odds.