MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas braces for a huge response from Australia when the two teams collide in the third window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Monday night at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The match slated at 7:30 will be crucial for both teams – the winner will seize the solo lead in Group B standings. Gilas and Australia are currently knotted with a 4-1 win-loss slate.
Gilas head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes said he expects Australia to be aggressive against them after suffering a stinging 78-79 defeat against Japan on Friday night.
“We know how strong Australia is, especially now that they just dropped a game to Japan,” said Reyes. “They will be coming out like wounded tigers against us on Monday. We just have to be ready. We just have to come in and play our best.”
Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Roger Pogoy, Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Matthew Wright, Calvin Abueva, Jeth Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, Gabe Norwood, Carl Bryan Cruz, and Baser Amer are expected to steer Gilas.
Australia, for its part, will rely on Milwuakee Bucks players’ Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker along with mainstays Chris Gouldling, Cameron Gliddon and Angus Brandt.
“Obviously, we’ll be fired up to get some payback from when we beat them in Australia and looking forward to it,” said Australia head coach Andrej Lemanis.
“They’re a good team, obviously, and it’s gonna be an exciting environment there in the big stadium,” he added.
In their first encounter Australia handily defeated Gilas 84-68 at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne on Feb. 22./PN
