Philippines-Jordan clash headlines Round 2 of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers on August 28 – BusinessWorld Online
A GRUDGE match between Gilas Pilipinas and Jordan looms as they headline the triple-header Round 2 of the FIBA World Cup (WC) Qualifiers firing off on Aug. 28.
Since 2022, the two sides have fought on even terms over four matches.
They split their showdowns back in the second round of the qualifiers for the 2023 WC. The Filipinos, then reinforced by Ange Kouame, posted a 74-66 win in Amman on November 2022 then the Jordanians exacted revenge in their return match in Bocaue on February 2023, 91-90, spoiling the 41-point explosion of Justin Brownlee.
The Falcons, with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson on board, reasserted their dominance seven months later in the group stage of the 2023 Asian Games, 87-62. But Mr. Brownlee and Co. got the best payback when they met again in the finals on October 2023, hammering a famous 70-60 romp that gave the Philippines its first Asiad basketball gold since 1962.
Next week, they will renew this rivalry in the Window 4 hostilities of the Qualifying tilt for next year’s global showcase
Coach Tim Cone’s troops need to take care of business in this coming duel at the SM MOA Arena to boost their drive for the four WC tickets at stake. The Nationals run fifth in Group E entering this crucial window with eight points on a 2-4 win-loss card — four markers off unbeaten Australia (12 points), three off Iran and Jordan, and two adrift New Zealand while ahead of Syria (eight points on 2-4) on tiebreak.
The Philippines-Jordan tussle fires off at 8:30 p.m., hitting the court after the Iran-NZ tiff and Syria-Australia face-off at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
The opening act is also spiced with revenge factor with the Tall Blacks gunning for the scalp of Team Melli, who beat them for the bronze in last year’s FIBA Asia Cup.
Gilas has assembled an expanded pool of 21 that now includes big man Justin Arana, for the task against Jordan as well as Iran on Aug. 30. — Olmin Leyba