THE Philippines has no other recourse but to beat Saudi Arabia in another fourth window clash in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asia qualifiers on Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Gilas Pilipinas has to win after its reputation suffered another dent—an 81-85 loss to Lebanon—in Beirut on Friday night.
Playing in hostile territory where the Lebanese were rabid about their home team, Filipino fans take their turn to root for a limping national team that has yet to add to its two victories—both over lowly India—tainted with three losses, the other two to New Zealand, in the window.
“I’m pumped up and excited,” free agent forward Roosevelt Adams, who was cut in the Lebanon game, said. He will replace big man Carl Tamayo in head coach Chot Reyes roster against the Saudis.
“I’m just going to play my game and whenever I get the opportunity to get on the floor, I will be going 100 percent,” said Adams, who used to play for Terrafirma.
National Basketball Association standout Jordan Clarkson, Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Chris Newsome, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and Calvin Oftana remain on the team that returned to Manila on Saturday.
The 34th-ranked Filipinos play the No, 80 Saudis at 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
New Zealand leads Group E with a 4-0 won-lost card, followed by Lebanon with 4-1, its lone loss inflicted by the Kiwis.
Saudi Arabia is 1-4, having beaten Indonesia, which crashed out of the qualifiers but will still cohost the Fiba 2023 World Cup with main host Philippines and Japan.
Saudi Arabia’s 6-foot-10 Mohammad Al-Marwani is not on the lineup but the team will be led by guard Khalid Abdel Gabar, who averaged 16.5 points in the recent FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta.
The last time that the Philippines defeated Saudi Arabia was in July 2021 when a Tab Baldwin-coached Gilas booked a 77-61 victory at the King Abdullah Cup in Jordan.