US, Spain top picks for FIBA World Cup; Gilas faces Croatia in opener

MANILA, Philippines - Exactly 36 years since the country last took the hard court in the world stage, Gilas Pilipinas brings back the experience and the sweet memories of the past in taking on Croatia Saturday afternoon at the start of the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

The United States is the decided No. 1 pick with its NBA stars, Spain is fancied to contend for the finals with its own formidable lineup enjoying the home court advantage while Argentina, Lithuania and Greece are among the dark horses with their tough showings in the last international meets.

The Philippines will be content fighting for pride, honor and dignity in Group B play with Croatia, Greece, Argentina, Puerto Rico and Senegal in Seville.

A big bonus is if coach Chot Reyes and his team are able to pull off two wins and break the 16-team knockout stage of the quadrennial conclave of the best national teams from the five FIBA continental zones – America, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia.

In its last stint in the World Cup at home in 1978, Team Phl was seeded into the semifinal round but failed to score a single win against eventual champion Yugoslavia, runner-up Soviet Union, third-placer Brazil, Italy, the US, Canada and Australia.

The country’s last win in the world meet came at the hands of Central African Republic on July 12, 1974 in Puerto Rico – an 87-86 nail-biter marked by a 22-point explosion by Bogs Adornado.

Then the Asian title-holders, the Nationals finished 13th with a 2-5 win. Adornado also topscored with 20 points as the Nationals nosed out the Aussies, 101-100, for their other win in the tourney.

  With the evolution of the game and the continuous improvement of the world’s giant teams, the Gilas coach admits their chance to advance from group plays is “slim and none.”

The Nationals take the court in Seville with Croatia on opening day, Greece the next day, Argentina Monday, Puerto Rico on Wednesday and Senegal on Thursday.

Incidentally, Greece and Argentina were among those who have dealt the US team their recent losses in the world championship.

The Greeks humbled Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and company, 101-95, in the semifinals in Saitama, Japan in 2006 while the Manu Ginobili-led Argentine team stunned Paul Pierce and his US teammates, 87-80, in a second-round match-up in Indianapolis in 2002.

Croatia and Puerto Rico will also be mighty walls to conquer for Team Philippines.

Realistically, Gilas Pilipinas’ best chance to win should be against Senegal.

The Filipinos begin their Seville odyssey against the Croats at 12:30 p.m. (around 6:30 p.m. in Manila).

Other Group B games on opening day pit Argentina versus Puerto Rico and Greece against Senegal.

It’s Egypt versus Serbia, France against Brazil and Iran versus Spain in Group A action in Granada; Ukraine versus Dominican Republic, New Zealand opposite Turkey and US against Finland in Group C matches in Bilbao, and Angola versus Korea, Australia opposite Slovenia and Mexico against Lithuania in Group D hostilities in Gran Canaria.

With a rich basketball history with legends like Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc and Dino Radja, Croatia is currently No. 16 in the FIBA World Ranking with a silver medal in the Olympics and a bronze medal in the world championship tucked under its belt.

 The current Croatian team boasts of a tall average height of 6-foot-8.

 Coach Jasmin Repesa has aces up in his sleeves in Indiana Pacer Damian Rudez and recent NBA Draft pick Dario Saric.