Gilas hard-pressed vs well-trained China, Qatar Iraq

MANILA, Philippines – China, Qatar and Iraq have long been in training and have played tough warm-up events while Gilas Pilipinas was just about to put together last night its elite team for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup that fires off in 12 days.

Gilas Pilipinas will have to make do with 12 days of practices as they tangle with the Chinese, the Qataris and the Iraqis in group play in the Lebanon meet slated August 8-20.

The Nationals take on the Chinese on August 9, the Iraqis on Aug. 11 and the Qataris on the 13th.

China has just completed dual meets with Australia and New Zealand, Qatar is just done competing in the tough Atlas Challenge in Suzhou, China while Iraq is back in training camp in Istanbul after its Jones Cup stint.

Gilas had its stint in the Jones Cup but with its cadet team bound for the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur from August 19-30.

June Mar Fajardo and company were together in the SEABA Championship back in May. They were to gather again and start their FIBA Asia Cup buildup at the Upper Deck Gym in Pasig last night.

Gilas is hard pressed to make the Top Three in their grouping with China, Qatar and Iraq to advance to the knockout round of the Asian meet.

The Chinese will always be tough with their tall lineup.

Qatar is running a new program under new coach Qusai Hatem with a naturalized player in former PBA import Sammy Monroe while Iraq is determined to make an impact in its FIBA Asia Cup return, featuring a naturalized player in either DeMario Mayfield or Kevin Galloway.

China has formed two equally tough teams set to play alternately in the FIBA Asia home-and-away world qualifiers.

The China Red team played a series versus Australia and New Zealand while the China Blue squad was the one fielded in the Atlas Challenge at home versus Iran, Australia, Qatar, Lithuania, USA, Ukraine and Belarus.

A regular competitor in the Jones Cup, the Qataris chose the Atlas Challenge over the Taipei Invitationals that they felt was a better buildup for them for the Asia Cup.

“The Atlas Challenge was a good stepping stone and warm-up for the FIBA Asia Cup and the WC qualifiers,” said Khalaf on a news report in the Qatar Basketball Federation web site.

 The Qatar team is led by Monroe, a former PBA import with the defunct Barako Coffee team.

They haven’t finished in the Top Five since 2005.

Meanwhile, Iraq will be back in the Asian meet for the first time after 30 long years of absence.

In preparation for their comeback, the Iraqis pitch camp in Istanbul. They were there before the Jones Cup and returned there after their sixth-place finish in the Taipei Invitationals.

Iraq won over India (86-68), Japan (79-70), Taipei Blue (80-76), Iran (90-75) and lost to Canada (48-99), Taipei White (79-87), the Philippines (75-84), South Korea (77-93) and Lithuania (83-99).