Italy used their hot outside shooting to dominate a listless Gilas Pilipinas side, 108-62 in the opening day of the 2019 FIBA World Cup group stages in China.
The European powerhouses drained 15 out of their 31 attempts from three-point area, setting the tone for a huge embarrassment of the Philippine side.
As if fate had it designed, Kiefer Ravena got a steal and scored on a fast break lay-up in the second quarter of Gilas Pilipinas’ second closed-door tune-up game against Australian club team Adelaide 36ers inside the Meralco Gym seconds after he checked in an official basketball game for the first time in a year and half following his FIBA-meted suspension.
And just like that, close to 18 months worth of guilt, disappointment, anger, dread, and a lot more emotions rolled into his mind vanished as new chapter in his famed and magnified basketball career unfolded that night.
Not many saw Robert Bolick making the final 12 roster of Gilas Pilipinas for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
But due to circumstances beyond the national team’s control, like injuries to two of the country’s finest sharpshooters in Marcio Lassiter and Matthew Wright, Bolick was given passage to the final line-up.
Having missed the opportunity to be in two FIBA World Cup rosters, one might ask what’s running inside the mind of Gilas Pilipinas back-up center Beau Belga.
Belga will not be part of the Final 12 roster bound for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China starting this weekend, after being the final cut in a roster hit with injuries and minor issues.
Gilas Pilipinas will have a daunting task in the upcoming 2019 FIBA World Cup in China which tips off on Saturday, August 31 as they are bracketed alongside Serbia, Italy, and Angola in Group D of the first round.
Men’s national basketball team head coach Yeng Guiao has already expressed his thoughts regarding the grouping, saying it would be imperative for Gilas to beat Italy and Angola to advance to the second round and have a shot at the quarter-finals.
Gilas Pilipinas men head coach Yeng Guiao said the team is preparing extra hard for Italy in the upcoming 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, as it could be the “most important game” for the nationals.
The Philippines will square off with the European side on August 31 to open their Group D phase, and Guiao said the squad is extremely focused on scouting Italy and preparing because of the huge repercussions the game may have for the entire group.
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao had high praise for PBA rookies CJ Perez and Robert Bolick, who both made the final 12-man roster for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
With injuries to main wing men Marcio Lassiter and Matthew Wright, it seemed Guiao was virtually left with no choice but to include both Perez and Bolick for the final 12.
With less than a week to go before the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, Gilas Pilipinas this time will be able to bank on not just talent and chemistry, but also experience.
The national team announced the final 12 line-up for this year’s edition of the Worlds, and almost half of the roster have had prior World Cup experience.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas have released the FIBA World Cup final 12 roster of the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national team on Sunday.
Headlining the 12-man line-up are five veterans of the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain: Andray Blatche, Japeth Aguilar, Paul Lee, June Mar Fajardo, and Gabe Norwood.