WORLDSPORTS
APRIL 2014
HISTORIC FEAT
The Gilas team on the podium after a runner-up finish at the FIBA Asia
Skeptics have deemed virtually impossible for the Philippine team to make
it past the first round of this tournament,
formerly known as the World Championship, because it will be facing five teams
ranked among the best in the world and
champions in their respective regions.
The Filipinos are bracketed with
former title-holder Argentina and European heavyweights Greece and Croatia,
along with Puerto Rico and Senegal in
Group B of the 24-nation competition.
The tournament format will have
each national team play a total of five
preliminary matches from their respective groups, and the top four squads from
A-B-C-D will all advance to the knockout
stage round-of-16.
Experts believe it would almost be
impossible to beat Argentina, Greece and
Croatia. But Gilas may have a fighting
chance against Senegal and Puerto Rico.
Gilas will begin the first round
against Croatia on Aug. 30, followed by
Greece and Argentina, and then games
against Puerto Rico and Senegal.
Of the five teams Gilas will face in the
preliminary stage, only