TIM CONE –PHOTO BY FIBA.COM
Coming into a no-tomorrow game, Gilas Pilipinas would certainly want to get off to a better start, especially with the Filipinos about to face host Saudi Arabia that won’t be a pushover like in the past.
The Philippines will seek a spot in the quarterfinals at 12 midnight on Tuesday in Manila, with coach Tim Cone hoping to shake off the ills that marred its group phase campaign while displaying the mantra cultivated for many decades by the Barangay Ginebra squad he handles back home.
“What I like about our team is we just don’t quit and we just keep coming,” Cone said. “Back home, we call it the ‘Never Say Die’ attitude, and that’s evident on this team. And hopefully, that will be the one that gets us forward.
“But we don’t want to rely on that all the time,” he also stressed. “We do need to get off to a better start.”
At stake is a matchup against Australia, the top team in Group A and a massive task in case Gilas gets past a Saudi Arabian side that arranged the intriguing qualification face-off after placing second in Group C by winning two of three games.
Saudi Arabia dropped its opening assignment to China, 93-88, but bounced back with victories over Jordan, 77-73, and India, which it waylaid to the tune of 84-59 on Saturday to secure its spot.
Two players have been the reasons for Saudi Arabia’s sudden rise into a potential threat in the region, guard Muhammed-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and center Mohammad Alsuwailem.
Abdur-Rahkman, the 30-year-old guard who played for Michigan in the US NCAA and is now with Italian club Treviso Basket, averaged 23.7 points in three group games on 39 percent shooting. He’s 9-of-30, most of which are coming from the left elbow.
Chris Newsome could likely be tasked as the main defender for Abdur-Rahkman, with Calvin Oftana, provided his ankle is okay enough for him to play, Scottie Thompson or even Dwight Ramos as possible options for Cone.
The 6-foot-9 Alsuwailem, on the other hand, has produced 14.7 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks for the Saudis, and could impose problems for both AJ Edu and June Mar Fajardo.
The Philippines has won its last three meetings with Saudi Arabia, the two most recent during the World Cup Asian Qualifiers in 2022 when Jordan Clarkson led an 84-46 thrashing at Mall of Asia and an 86-73 triumph on the road.
June Mar Fajardo (center) will be a crucial Gilas piece. —PHOTOS BY FIBA.COM
The Saudis beat the Philippines in the 1989 edition when it was still known as the ABC Championship. Saudi Arabia won 91-89 in overtime when the two teams faced off for seventh place in Beijing, China.
Gilas will try to avoid an upset defeat, by first getting off to a good start, unlike in the three games when it had to play catch-up.
But the difference between the Iraq game to the Chinese-Taipei and New Zealand matchups was that Gilas was able to stay within striking distance despite a pair of six-point deficits in the first quarter, eventually tying things up at the break before pulling away for a 66-57 win on Saturday.
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“You always want to go on a good start,” said Cone. “We just need to have a more defensive intensity at the beginning of the basketball game because it’s always tough when you’re playing on your heels and coming from behind.” INQ