TEAM Pilipinas found itself burdened by a tough task of toppling powerhouse Iran on Monday as stakes got more difficult in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Action fires off at 7:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena with the national team plunging into a crucial match to keep hold of the third spot with a 5-4 won-loss record.
The Filipinos dropped an 88-92 result to the visiting Kazakhstan national team last Friday to share third place with Japan, which beat Qatar, 85-47, on the same day.
“There’s more pressure on us now to win against Iran. I’m not giving up our chances,” Team Pilipinas Head Coach Yeng Guiao said.
Australia comfortably sits on top with an 8-1 record. Iran, which was given a rude welcome in Melbourne with a 47-76 loss last week, has a 6-3 card.
The result of Monday’s games would determine many of the teams’ fate entering the last window in February. Just before the Team Pilipinas-Iran tipoff, Japan hosts Kazakhstan at the Toyoma City Gymnasium.
Only seven teams from Asia will advance to the World Cup in China next year.
Against Kazakhstan, the Filipinos were entangled in a tight battle and visitors showed more heart at crunchtime.
Six-foot-9 forward Alexandr Zhigulin led the Kazakhs with 30 points, including six triples.
Stanley Pringle, who played as the team’s naturalized player, powered the hosts with 29 points, four assists and three rebounds.
June Mar Fajardo added 14 points, while Marcio Lassiter chipped in 13.
Guiao admitted that it was the long bombs of the agile Kazakh big men that torched the Filipinos. “We’re disappointed. We were mismatched in terms of quickness of our big men,” Guiao said.
The Iranians, on the other hand, were simply overpowered by the Aussies with Behnam Yakhchali churning in the lone double-digit score of 12 points. Iran was limited to a woeful 15-of-67 shooting in the match.
Guiao will have Christian Standhardinger as his naturalized player to match the bigs of the Iranians. Backing him up are Fajardo, Lassiter, returnees Jayson Castro and Troy Rosario, Gabe Norwood, Matthew Wright, Japeth Aguilar, Beau Belga, Arwind Santos, LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson.