Gilas ready for tall blacks

MANILA, Philippines — Wounded Gilas Pilipinas gets one shot to end this trying international window on a high note.

But it would take a virtually super-human effort from the Nationals as standing in their way is New Zealand, a powerhouse bent on retaliation for its painful 93-89 defeat last November in Manila.

And the Filipinos would have to do it on the hostile environs of the Spark Arena in Auckland in today’s culminating game of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Coach Tim Cone said they’re quickly moving on from their 91-84 setback to host Chinese-Taipei last Thursday, as well as the preceding lopsided losses to Lebanon and Egypt in the Doha Invitational Cup in Qatar, as they battle the Tall Blacks for Group B’s top seeding at 5-1 at 3 p.m. (10 a.m. Manila time).

“We got to finish this trip and try to finish it strong,” Cone said on One Sports.

After losing to the Philippines for the first time in FIBA play, the Tall Blacks have revamped their lineup with only Corey Webster, Sam Waanderberg Taylor Britt and Waller Brown returning from the November encounter. And one major difference in the Philippine roster is the absence of Kai Sotto, who had 19-10-7 with two blocks in the first meeting.

“We’re going to play a tougher New Zealand team and so somehow, we have to figure out a way to put this (losing spell) behind us and move forward,” said Cone.

“It’s going to be very difficult and it’s going to really test the character of the players. But you know, that’s what playing on the world stage is all about; you’re going to have these ups and downs.”

The hope is that the testy experience will help grow the squad in a major way moving forward.

“It’s about learning how to play away, in tough environments and just being ready,” said naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who needs more helping hands if the Nationals were to overcome adversity in NZ.

“Teams are now going to come out and play their best game against us. We had a lot of recent success so teams know about that and they’re going to come (and) put their best game and be very excited to play us. And we just got to be ready for it.”

Though already qualified for the Asia Cup slated for August in Saudi Arabia regardless of the result in Auckland, the Filipinos are looking to win not only for psychological boost but also for a more favorable positioning for top seeds when final groupings for the main competition is drawn.