For Gilas Pilipinas’ marketing campaign within the 2023 FIBA World Cup, GMA News Online related with Milos Jovanovic, a veteran Serbian sportswriter with an curiosity in Philippine basketball, to assist break issues down from an out of doors perspective. Read his previews of the Philippines-Dominican Republic recreation right here, the Philippines-Angola recreation right here, and the Philippines-Italy recreation right here.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup is kind of an event. Teams from everywhere in the globe collect to compete, with the distinguished title of World Champion being the important thing objective. And that title, let me inform you, is kind of one thing.
I used to be lucky sufficient, a minimum of when basketball is taken into account, to name the nation of a five-time world champion my nation of delivery. I wasn’t there when the previous Yugo gained it in 1970, or in 1978 in Manila. I keep in mind the 1990 World Cup in Argentina, however I used to be effectively of age to recall each minute of our World Cup victories in Athens in 1998 and Indianapolis in 2002. The latter got here after beating group USA, that includes the likes of Ben Wallace, Jermaine O’Neal, Paul Pierce and Reggie Miller, within the quarterfinal. Winning the World Cup – or a minimum of, having fun with the victory earned by my countrymen – is one thing I’ve discovered to understand firsthand.
But the pursuit of the last word objective shouldn’t be the one factor that groups fear about on the Cup. If you don’t find yourself first, you may find yourself on the rostrum nonetheless and get a silver or a bronze medal in your efforts.
And if that evades you as effectively, then there’s one final glimmer of hope which you’ll declare — and it’s not an insigificant one in any respect.
As of 2019, FIBA has expanded the World Cup right into a 32-strong format, and with that change got here one other one as effectively – the system of Olympic quotas additionally obtained refreshed. Back in 2014, it was solely the winner, alongside the host, who obtained an computerized bye into the Olympic event, which is universally considered the Holy Grail of worldwide basketball (simply take notice who confirmed up this yr, after which examine with group rosters in Paris subsequent summer time – consider me, will probably be fairly some distinction between the 2).
But now, the sport is performed barely in a different way – and the World Cup now works in addition to a seeding contest for future Olympic torch-bearers.
Right now, there is just one group which is for certain to characteristic subsequent yr, and that’s in fact France – being the host. The 2023 FIBA World Cup in Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia will present us with seven extra contestants, whereas the remaining will duke it out via grinding OQT’s slated to occur someplace subsequent yr in June or July.
The seven passes are divided as follows – two every go to greatest positioned European and American (each North and South) sides, whereas Africa, Asia and Oceania will get one every. And, to get this one out of the best way, Australia counts underneath Oceania in terms of Olympic seeding.
What does this all imply, you may ask? Well, let me translate this for you – which means that the Gilas Pilipinas are observing their greatest shot in ages to make the Olympic basketball event.
The final time Filipino cagers graced the Olympic hardwood, the world was a barely completely different place. You might smoke on the airliners – heck, you can smoke and never get frowned upon. Petrol most likely costed a fraction of what it was at this time, TV units have been primarily black and white and William Friedkin’s masterpiece The French Connection swept the forty fourth Academy Awards.
I’ll spare you the Googling – it was in Munich again in 1972. The former Ysmael Steel standout Jimmy “Mr. Cool” Mariano was the captain and flag bearer on the opening ceremony, and he lead the group which featured Bogs Adornado, Joy Cleofas, Manny Paner and Danny Florencio to a 1-6 document within the pool play, beating Senegal 68-62 for his or her lone win. Later on, they managed to beat Japan in a thirteenth place tussle with a rating of 82 to 73.
But let’s get again on-topic. Nobody, I’d presume, expects Coach Chot and his boys to win the World Cup. However, sneaking into Paris may very well be on the playing cards…and for that, they could want mere two wins.
There are a complete of six Asian sides within the event – eight with Australia and New Zealand, however these, as agreed, we gained’t depend as Oceania has their very own Olympic seed. The groups, that are all rank outsiders of their teams, are as follows – China, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon… and, in fact, the Philippines. The greatest positioned of these will delight their households with postcards of Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame come subsequent yr. And it would solely take passing the primary section. But what are the chances?
Jordan, for one, gained’t make it. Their pool consists of United States, Greece and New Zealand. The Arab squad has one sturdy participant in lieu of former Fenerbahce Istanbul heart Ahmed Al-Dwairi (or Ahmed Duveriouglu, as they name him in Turkey), and getting one over the Tall Blacks is likely to be on the playing cards, however their possibilities versus USA are non-existent, and I doubt Greece provides them a recreation both. One down, then.
Japan, granted, is the host nation in Okinawa, however their possibilities don’t look nice both. With Rui Hachimura quitting for private causes, the Japanese can solely hope that somebody from their pool has an off day… and by off, we imply one thing like shoot 0-for-83 from the sector. No disrespect meant right here, however in a gaggle which additionally options Germany, one in all gold medal favourites, Australia, and a Finland facet that includes the rapid-firing Lauri Markannen of Utah Jazz, probably the most you may count on is to remain dignified in defeat. Two down.
Iran is a giant title in Asian basketball. The former Gilas coach Rajko Toroman famously helmed Iran to their first-ever Asian gold again in 2007, which they adopted up 4 extra Asian Cup medals in years that adopted. But that was then, and now, effectively, Iran ain’t what it was once. Their pool is a barely extra forgiving one, and Ivory Coast may very well be a winnable card, however Brazil and Spain are more likely to prevail over them simply. Three down.
There is lots to love about Lebanese basketball. They are legitimately hoops-mad, with native membership derbies attracting large crowds. They actually love their basketball, and they’re captivated with it. But ardour and custom gained’t reduce it on this “Group of Death”, which options the powerhouse squads of France and Canada (feat. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett), in addition to the darkish horse of Latvia (albeit with out Kristaps Porzingis). Right now, there’s extra probability of me making the Gilas roster than Lebanon getting out of right here alive, in order that’s… 4 down.
So who’s left? The lone greatest menace to this masterplan might effectively be the previous Filipino rival that’s China. The Chinese glory days of Yao Ming, Wang Zhi Zhi, Mengke Bateer and Yi Jianlian are lengthy gone, however a brand new era is rising – legendary Serbian participant and later coach Aleksandar Djordjevic was tasked with reforming Chinese basketball, and his squad is gelling alongside properly.
They additionally obtained a correct shot within the arm with the addition of NBA participant Kyle Anderson, often called Li Kaier in Chinese, who will certainly assist them lots. And their process is barely simpler than the Gilas one – they should emerge out of a gaggle that includes Serbia, Puerto Rico and South Sudan. They’re very a lot odds towards to beat the Serbians, however the different two? It may effectively occur.
Back to Gilas now. For them, the trail to Paris 2024 branches out in three instructions.
One, to go their group with all the opposite Asians failing, making them robotically the best-placed Asian nation within the area. The second situation includes all Asian groups flunking their teams, which might open a large battle royale within the 17-32 classification bracket, involving some probably memorable video games alongside the best way.
And third? Well… the third one is likely to be the juiciest. Because, ought to China and Philippines each survive the primary spherical, they are going to find yourself enjoying one another within the newly-formed Group I, establishing a winner-take-it-all deathmatch with the Olympic visa at stake. And simply how memorable that one is likely to be?
Paris may effectively be 11 thousand kilometers away from Manila at this time, however in a fortnight? Who is aware of. As all the time, it’s right down to the hard-working dozen sporting Gilas jerseys to shorten that distance. So cheer them on, Filipinos and Filipinas. They want you now greater than ever. And if all of it works out, see you in France.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
