The game is on Thursday
(MOA Arena)
7:30 pm – Philippines vs New Zealand
GILAS PILIPINAS doesn’t need to talk much to come up against New Zealand (NZ) in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Thursday.
The fact that the Nationals are playing in front of their adoring home fans in an official FIBA game for the first time since February is enough to keep them motivated.
Then there’s the one side of their history where the Tall Blacks have lost four straight since 2016, making the comeback even more of a driving force at 7:30 pm at the MOA Arena.
“We want to protect our home court, and we want to prove ourselves to Gilas fans all over the country. All this is very important to us. Therefore, I really expect us to be ready and motivated to play,” said Mr. Cone.
Against opponents ranked 12 places high on the world totem pole, No. 34 Nationals are looking to replicate their big kill effort in their previous campaign at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) last July.
In that qualifying meeting for the Paris Olympiad, the team of Mr. The hot Cone finished in 6th place and hosted Latvia, 89-80, en route to the semifinals. That, along with the tough playing field against Georgia and Brazil who ended up winning in the semis proved Gilas’ strength as one team that high level opponents like the Kiwis will not be able to underestimate.
“New Zealand have dominated us for the past few years and have beaten us badly when we played them. But actually I feel like there is a feeling that we can beat them this time and there is some confidence in the players and rightly so,” said Mr. Cone at One Sports.
“Just believe. If we can go in with the belief that we can do it, I think we will do it,” he added.
According to Mr. Cone, AJ Edu (knee problem) will join Jamie Malonzo (calf) on the sidelines, leaving Justin Brownlee, June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Oftana, Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Kai Sotto, Carl. Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao and traded Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos for work.
“AJ will not play like Jamie. We could not get permission from the doctors,” said Mr. Cone A star yesterday.
“Calvin (Oftana) has a calf problem but he will try to get through it, the same with Chris (Newsome) with the hamstring. We are still a little crazy but the boys are trying and ready to play,” he added.
It will be a battle for the lead in Group B and a step closer to the 2025 Asia Cup proper in Saudi Arabia for the Nationals and the Kiwis, who both swept their respective two-match quotas in the opening window.
The Tall Blacks, under new coach Judd Flavell, feature a mix of veterans such as Corey Webster and former Converge star Tom Vodanovich as well as promising youngsters such as 17-year-old FIBA U17 World Cup qualifier Oscar Goodman in the effort their to increase their power. The Filipinos. – Olmin Leyba
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