The Olympics dream continues for Gilas Pilipinas.
The Filipinos will look to push ahead its bid for a 2024 Paris Olympics slot because it collides in opposition to South Sudan on Thursday within the classification section of the 2023 FIBA World Cup on the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The two squads will slug it out at 8 p.m. to wrap up the double-header as Angola takes on China within the opening salvo at 4 p.m.
The sport, regardless of now not having any bearing within the World Cup correct except for checking out the rankings of the already eradicated groups, stays simply as vital for the Philippines and different Asian groups as they try and safe a spot within the Paris Games subsequent 12 months.
Only one ticket is allotted for Asia on this match in addition to Africa and Oceania whereas the Americas and Europe get two slots every.
And the Philippines is trying to get that Olympic ticket outright and never must undergo one other collection of video games within the Olympic Qualifying Tournament within the following months.
But the job would not get simpler for the hosts.
They will tackle a South Sudan aspect who, regardless of competing of their first-ever World Cup, made an amazing run after beating the Chinese group with a press release 89-69 victory final Monday and coming shut in opposition to Puerto Rico in an time beyond regulation loss, 101-96.
South Sudan’s losses to Serbia and Puerto Rico in Group B compelled them to bow out of competition, nevertheless. Chicago Bulls guard Carlik Jones has been its chief prior to now three video games, averaging 19.7 factors, 2.7 rebounds, and seven.7 assists.
Aside from Jones, South Sudan additionally options two gamers with NBA expertise in Wenyen Gabriel and Marial Shayok, who’s the group’s high rebounder with 4.7 per sport. Sunday Dech, who was Kai Sotto’s teammate with the Adelaide 36ers within the NBL, can also be a part of the squad.
Jordan Clarkson is tipped to hold the load as soon as extra for the Filipinos because the Utah Jazz star is main the group in factors and assists with 24.0 markers and 6.7 dimes by means of three video games. But he’ll want numerous assist with a purpose to beat South Sudan.
Young star AJ Edu is the group’s main rebounder with 6.3 boards a sport as Dwight Ramos and the likes of six-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, 7-foot-3 wunderkind Kai Sotto, and gunner RR Pogoy are additionally anticipated to step up.
The Philippines’ final look within the males’s basketball competitors within the Olympics was in 1972 in Munich, Germany, with gamers like Freddie Webb, Danny Florencio, Bogs Adornado, Jun Papa, Manny Paner, Yoyong Martirez, Tembong Melencio, Narciso Bernardo, and Jimmy Mariano bannering the squad.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
