For only the second time in the Tim Cone era of Gilas Pilipinas Men, the Philippines will play a FIBA game without Justin Brownlee.
Gilas will field an all-local 12 against Jordan tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
It will be a crucial clash for the Philippines as it looks to keep its hopes of advancing to the FIBA World Cup proper next year in Doha, Qatar, alive. Gilas currently sits at 2-4 in Group E.
On the other hand, the Falcons have lost just once so far, a 67-49 defeat to Iran last July 2.
“We’re playing without Justin. We’re not bringing our best team also,” admitted Gilas head coach Tim Cone.
“Hopefully, just like when you’re playing in the league, in the PBA or in the NBA, when the other team has an injury or something is going on with the other team and they’re going through a bad stretch, you’re not going to feel sorry for them. It’s your job to go out and take advantage of it.”
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Headlining Gilas are returning players Kai Sotto, Scottie Thompson, and CJ Perez.
Completing the Filipino lineup are Kevin Quiambao, Juan Gomez de Liano, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, Troy Rosario, June Mar Fajardo, Chris Newsome, and Justine Baltazar.
According to Casino Plus sportsbook, Jordan is only a -1.5 favorite entering the contest, with the over/under for total points set at 159.5.
Bets can be placed here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
Cone is particularly wary of Jordan’s naturalized guard Jalen Harris, whom he considers the Falcons’ version of Justin Brownlee.
“The guy that we are going to have to be concerned about, he is their Justin Brownlee, is Jalen Harris. He is a former NBA guy, 6-4 shooting guard that averaged, so far, in the World Cup qualifiers, 27 points a game,” said Cone about Harris, who is now playing for New Taipei.
“So he is someone that we’re going to have to find some stoppers to go against. With Jalen Harris, that makes them very formidable for us to defend.”
Also part of Jordan’s lineup are Ahmad Al Dwairi, Amin Abu Hawwas, Ahmad Alhamarsheh, Mohammad Hussein, Fadi Mustafa, Saif Al-Deen Saleh, Hadi Alshami, Rahwi Kilani, Omar Salman, Malek Kanaan, and Abdullah Olajuwon.
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In the earlier games, Australia and New Zealand look to continue their tear toward the World Cup.
The Tall Blacks take on Iran’s Team Melli at 2 p.m., followed by the Boomers’ clash with Syria’s Nosour Qasioun at 5 p.m.
Australia has been unbeaten so far, going 6-0 in the first round with an average winning margin of 27.0 points per game.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has yet to lose since Window 1.
The Boomers’ lineup will be composed of Josh Bannan, Anthony Dell’orso, Dash Daniels, Sam Froling, Angus Glover, Jacob Holt, Nick Kay, Tanner Krebs, Max Mackinnon, Elijah Pepper, Luke Travers, and Tom Wilson.
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New Zealand, meanwhile, features Flynn Cameron, Tobias Cameron, Carlin Davison, Dan Fotu, Jordan Hunt, Shea Ili, Sam Mennenga, Jordan Ngatai, Reuben Te Rangi, Sam Timmins, Sam Waardenburg, Corey Webster, Tai Webster, and Luca Yates.
Australia is an overwhelming favorite heading into the contest, according to Casino Plus sportsbook, with a -44.5 spread. The over/under is set at 166.0.
Meanwhile, Iran is a +6.5 underdog, with the over/under set at 156.5.
Team Melli are currently 5-1, with their lone loss coming against Jordan, 73-60, last February 27.
Syria, on the other hand, is 2-4, with its only wins coming against Iraq in the first round.
Iran’s roster is headlined by the returning Mohammad Amini and Mohammad Jamshidi.
Completing Iran’s lineup are Alireza Sharifi, Mobin Sheikhi, Piter Girgoorian, Mohhamad Heydari, Arman Zangeneh, Arsalan Kazemi, Matin Aghajanpour, Hasan Aliakbari, Salar Monji, and Seyed Jafari.
Syria will be composed of Omar Idelbi, Yousef Abdullah, Kamel Abdullah, Majd Arbasha, Tarek Aljabi, Alrahman Alkordy, Albulwahab Alhamwi, David Hermes, Omar Ali, Omar Makanas, Christian Maran, and James Justice.
