Chinese-Taipei out for revenge

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese-Taipei battles Gilas in the third FIBA Asia Cup qualifying window at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium tomorrow with two players who didn’t see action in their first round meeting. The host nation is suiting up 6-2 Mohammed Al Bachir Gadiaga and 7-foot Brandon Gilbeck who will lead the charge in seeking revenge on the Philippines.

In February last year, Gilas crushed Chinese-Taipei, 106-53, in the first qualifying window at the PhilSports Arena. But Gadiaga and Gilbeck didn’t play. Chinese-Taipei intends to pay back Gilas in the rematch with both players in harness. June Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo also sat out the contest so Coach Tim Cone won’t be without his surprises.

Gadiaga, 26, was born in Chiba, Japan, to a Senegalese father and American mother. He was raised in Taipei, attending New Taipei Municipal Dan Feng High School, Taipei City Municipal Taishan Senior High School and Shih Hsin University. In the Taiwan league, a foreigner who studied in a domestic school is eligible to play as a local. FIBA granted Gadiaga an exception to play for Chinese-Taipei as a local because of his educational background. Gadiaga played in Taiwan from 2021-22 to 2023-24 then moved to the Akita Northern Happinets in the Japan B-League this season. He was on the Chinese-Taipei team that reached the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games semis, averaging 13.9 points.

Gilbeck, 28, saw action at Western Illinois University then suited up for Denver in the NBA Summer League before embarking on a globetrotting career with stops in Denmark, Italy, Canada and finally, Taiwan in 2021. Gilbeck has played two games for Chinese-Taipei in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, norming 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. Chinese-Taipei coach Gianluca Tucci, 54, will likely call on three more players who didn’t engage Gilas last year. The reinforcements are 6-0 Ying Chun Chen, 6-7 Chien Hao Ma and 6-5 Long Mao Ha. Tucci coached in Italy from 1997 until he took over the Chinese-Taipei reins last year.