After a three-game sweep in the elimination round against Hong Kong, Iran and India, Gilas Pilipinas tangles with Lebanon Thursday night in a crucial game that could make or break the team’s goal of making it to the next Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.
The Philippine national team has lost only once in the ongoing FIBA Asia Championship games against newcomer Palestine in the opening game 75-73. Gilas was leading in the last three quarters but Palestine held on in the closing minutes of the last quarter for the hairline victory.
Lebanon coach Veselen Matic told media earlier that Gilas is the overwhelming favorite in Thursday quarterfinal encounter.
“He is just throwing that out to you (media) to print it,” Baldwin said. “His team is a strong team. They came here to advance deep in this tournament like we did. They’re placed to do that, we’re placed a little better to do that,” Baldwin said.
“I will guarantee you, he will come into that game thinking he can win,” he added.
Baldwin and Matic are familiar with each other’s game plan as they have faced each other in the court with different teams in the past.
Matic seems wary of Andray Blatche’s presence in the Gilas team saying that Lebanon is looking at naturalizing a foreign player to power his team.
“Which style do we need? I can say we need a very good level, someone who is at the level of Haddadi, Blatche and Yi Jianlian,” Matic told The Daily Star Lebanon.
Playing time for Gilas vs Lebanon is Thursday 9:30 p.m. FIBA Asia quarterfinals schedule can be viewed HERE.
