The point of no return looms for Gilas Pilipinas, with its remaining hope hinging on Sunday’s clash against Angola. Following a faltering performance in the initial game against the Dominican Republic, the Philippines desperately needs a victory to maintain its chances of progressing to the next round.
Yet, head coach Chot Reyes and the team remain undaunted as they prepare to face the African qualifier Angola in the ongoing Group A action of the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Unexpectedly, a glimmer of hope emerged before the 8 p.m. match against Angola, as Gilas Pilipinas stood its ground and came tantalizingly close to orchestrating a major upset against the Karl-Anthony Towns-led Dominicans. The matchup’s prelude features the equally enticing clash between opening day victors Italy and the Dominican Republic at 4 p.m.
For three and a half quarters, the Filipinos went head-to-head with the 23rd-ranked team globally, with Towns leading his squad in the final three minutes, capitalizing on Jordan Clarkson’s fouling out. Reyes, however, believes the narrative could have been different if Gilas Pilipinas had minimized turnovers and maintained control of the boards – aspects they must address against the equally determined African qualifier.
“It’s a different team, but Angola pressures the ball as much as the Dominican Republic did so definitely, we have to make some adjustments in our offense,” said Reyes of error-prone Gilas Pilipinas.
“We had 19 turnovers and that was big. We shot the ball well. We shot the ball better than Dominican (Republic), but they got a lot more attempts than we did so the story was the 19 turnovers and we gave up 17 offensive rebounds and that was it,” Reyes pointed out.
While there was much to appreciate about the game from Reyes’ perspective, one standout factor was the confidence exhibited by his big men – particularly AJ Edu and June Mar Fajardo. Fajardo’s robust presence under the hoop earned him 16 points, while Edu showcased formidable defense against Towns, who had to battle for all of his 26 points.
This newfound confidence in the big men holds immense significance for Gilas Pilipinas, especially considering their upcoming encounter with Angola’s NBA-caliber player, Bruno Fernando. Seven-foot-three center Kai Sotto, who had limited minutes in the Dominican game, and Japeth Aguilar, who struggled to find his rhythm, are anticipated to have more prominent roles this time.
Undoubtedly, Clarkson will be the focal point of the offensive drive after his 28-point performance in his World Cup debut. However, the team’s coaching staff is closely scrutinizing his fouls and turnovers (eight).
On the opposing side, Angola cannot be underestimated, having put up a strong fight against Italy despite a final score of 81-67, which did not accurately reflect the game’s competitiveness in the initial three quarters. Alongside Fernando’s 13 points, Childe Dundao emerges as a significant threat to Gilas Pilipinas, having scored 19 points against the Azzurri.
A victory over Angola would replicate a historic win for the Philippines against an African opponent in the World Cup. In 2014 in Seville, Spain, led by the 6-foot-11 naturalized player Andray Blatche and sharpshooting point guard Jimmy Alapag, the Philippines triumphed over Senegal in overtime, securing an 81-79 victory and marking the country’s first World Cup win in 40 years.
While this victory was celebrated, it did not spare Gilas Philippines from the classification round, where they eventually placed 21st. A win against Angola holds exceptional significance, as it would revive hopes for advancing to the next round and potentially securing an Olympic bid in Paris the following year.
Gilas Pilipinas’ next opponent is the 10th-ranked team globally, Italy, which might choose to rest key players if they secure a 2-0 record in the Group Phase against the Dominican Republic.
