GILAS Pilipinas got the toughest draw in the 2016 FIBA Qualifying Tournament for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games later this year.
In the draw held on Wednesday morning in Mies, Switzerland, the Philippines was drawn with powerhouse teams such as France, Canada and Turkey, along with New Zealand and Senegal.
The draw was attended by SBP executive director and former Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Sonny Barrios and journalist Quinito Henson of the Philippine Star.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny Pangilinan, in a texted message to The Standard shortly after the draw wrote: “We got strong teams in our group. We’ll have our hands full. Tab (Baldwin-coach) better start thinking of the best players we can get our hands on against these five formidable teams. This is gonna be one hell of a ride for Gilas and the country.”
However, Barrios in an overseas telephone conversation with The Standard after the draw said: “The way we see it, it could have been worse. It was either France or Greece and coach Baldwin told us jokingly if they draw Greece can you plead with them to put it back and re-draw. From that point of view, it’s not bad.”
He added: “We could have drawn Angola, which is No.1 in Africa instead of Senegal. The truth is it’s tough whatever (group) it may be. We did not get the worst. We could have gotten Croatia instead of Canada, while New Zealand is doable. If we win one and hope New Zealand loses to France, we will enter the crossover semifinals probably against Canada or Turkey.”
Barrios also pointed out there was “a common validation that it’s not a simple process” in signing up NBA players for the qualifiers.
The Manila group is regarded as the toughest of the three qualifiers compared to the cast in Turin, Italy and Belgrade in Serbia, where hosts Serbia will be joined by the Czech Republic, Japan, Angola, Latvia and Puerto Rico in the qualifier, which will take place from from July 5 to 10, while drawn with Italy in the other competitively strong Turin qualifier are Greece, Tunisia, Iran, Croatia and Mexico.
With rosters that include several NBA standouts, France is the biggest stumbling block to the Philippines as it is ranked No. 5 in the world, anchored by NBA stars point guard Tony Parker (12.5points, 5.0 assists and 2.6 rebounds) and center forward Boris Diaw (7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists).
No. 26-ranked Canada is expected to field a team led by Cleveland Cavaliers’ center forward Tristan Thompson, who is averaging 7.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in the on-going NBA season and Minnesota Timberwolves’ 6’8” shooting guard Andrew Wiggins, who is averaging 20.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Turkey, which is ranked No. 8 in the world, is also considered a formidable side led by 6’10” power forward Ersan Ilyasova of the Detroit Pistons, who is averaging 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds a game and 7’0” center Omer Asik of the New Orleans Pelicans, who has put together 3.4 points and 5.4 boards so far this NBA season.
While Gilas overcame Senegal in overtime in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the African side has a deep pool of tall and athletic players, led by NBA veteran 6’11” center Gorgui Dieng of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who has turned in an average of 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds this season.
If the Philippines got a break at all, it is that it was bracketed with New Zealand in Group B of the qualifiers, alongside France to be played at the Mall of Asia Arena, with the French expected to sweep the preliminary round games.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin steered New Zealand to the semifinals of the 2002 World Championships but has since failed to duplicate that success, with Gilas needing to beat the Kiwis to qualify for the crossover semifinals where it will face the No.1 team in the group of Canada, Turkey and Senegal.
Under the competition format announced by FIBA, Gilas will draw a bye in Day One, which will be July 5 when France and New Zealand face off before the Filipinos make their debut against New Zealand on July 6 before battling France on July 7.