ALL look optimistic hours before the Philippines faced Lebanon in the fourth window of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asia Qualifiers at the Nouhad Naufal Sports Complex in Beirut.
The match was set at 2 a.m. in Manila and by the time Filipinos wake up on Friday, they would have found up if the final 12 head coach Chot Reyes picked for the match on Thursday was effective specifically against the Lebanese.
Picked were National Basketball Association (NBA) star Jordan Clarkson, 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto, Japeth Aguilar, Chris Newsome, Scottie Thompson, Thirdy Ravena, Kiefer Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Jamie Malonzo and Calvin Oftana.
Roosevelt Adams, who was in the initial 13-man lineup that left Manila and touched down in Lebanon on Tuesday, did not make the final 12 but continued to train with the team.
“I’m hoping it’s going to be a win-and-run,” Thirdy Ravena told BusinessMirror. “It’s really good that we have JC [Jordan Clarkson] and Kai Sotto around, so we’ll do our best to win.”
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Sonny Barrios was as optimistic of the team he earlier described as “not exactly the best but the right mix” in the game against Lebanon.
“Our Gilas Pilipinas is raring to go all out for the flag and country,” Barrios said.
Sotto also got an A from assistant coach Tim Cone.
“Kai has been very, very impressive,” Cone said. “Maybe at the NBA level, it’s a different thing. But at this level, he’s a real deal.”
Clarkson? He’s a given for Cone.
“JC [Clarkson] knows the offense already,” Cone said. “He runs dribble-drive in Utah, he’s done it before.”
Lebanon will field FIBA Asia Cup Most Valuable Player Wael Arakji, naturalized player Jonathan Arledge, Ali Haidar, Hayk Gyokchyan, Karim Ezzedine, Elie Chamoun, Yousef Khayat, Gerard Hadidian, Karim Zeinoun, Ali Mansour and Ali Mezher.
Gilas tries to avenge a 95-80 loss to the Lebanese (5-1) in the FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta last July.
After the game in Beirut, Gilas will fly back to Manila on Saturday for the Saudi Arabia game (3-3) on Monday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Philippines is in fourth place in Group E with a 2-2 win-loss record while host Lebanon is sporting a 3-1 record for second place behind unbeaten No. 1 New Zealand (4-0).
Jordan is tied with Gilas Pilipinas with 2-2 record.