Though the Philippines was able to escape the likes of USA, Spain, and China, the country will figure in a relatively tough group come the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Gilas Pilipinas has been pooled with European squads Serbia and Italy for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The draw was held Saturday evening at the Shenzhen Cultural Center in China.
The Philippines was slotted in Pool D and will play its games in Foshan, China. The World Cup will take place from August 31 to September 15.
Completing the group is Angola.
Serbia – who will have Philadelphia 76ers’ 7-foot-3 big man Boban Marjanovic – qualified to the World Cup after placing in third place in a tough Group L in the European Qualifiers.
On the other hand, Italy was the second placed team in Group J. It will most likely field Los Angeles Clipper Danilo Gallinari and San Antonio Spur Marco Bellineli.
A total of 12 teams qualified for Europe.
Angola, the bottom-seeded team in the group, survived Group E in the African Qualifiers. Leading the team is 6-foot-9 stud Yanick Moreia.
Back in 2014, the Philippines finished with a 1-4 record in Spain.
