Road to FIBA Asia 2017: China

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas faces a stern test in its 2017 FIBA Asia Cup because they are lumped in the Group of Death. There’s top-rated China, a dangerous Qatar side and a totally unpredictable Iraq squad.

For the Filipinos’ opener, they take on China right away on August 9 at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Beirut, Lebanon.

“Mahirap agad,” succinctly put Gilas Pilipinas head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes. “Magkakasubukan agad. We will have to come out fighting.”

The Chinese bring to the competition a young team, but one that features a tall frontline.

Let’s take a look at who the Philippines will be taking on:

For China, the fourth East Asian Basketball Championship was the sub-zone qualifier for the main tournament. And for the first time in the history of the competition, five teams qualified for the Asian continental championship due to the two additional berths added from the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge.

Participating in the East Asian Qualifiers were Japan, South Korea and Macau, which were bracketed in Group A, while China was in Group B together with Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong.

China ruled Group B with a pair of demolition derbies. They mowed Chinese Taipei, 96-63, and Hong Kong, 90-60.

In the crossover semifinals, South Korea piped China in overtime, 106-104, to advance to the finals where they unfortunately ran out of steam against Chinese Taipei, which wrapped up the win, 77-64.

Then in the match for third place, China lost its second consecutive game, 76-58, to Japan. However, by topping Group B, China still qualified to the continental championship.

Now in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup, there is only one holdover from this team who competed in Nagano, Japan – 6’11 center Hu Jinqiu. Basketball analysts rate him highly that he is projected to join 21-year-old compatriot Zhou Qi in the NBA. Zhou plays for the Houston Rockets, the former squad of Chinese basketball great Yao Ming.

As for the 19-year-old Hu, with the retirement of Yi Jianlian, he is expected to be the next great Chinese center.

China head coach Du Feng brings to Beirut a team with an average age of 26 and an average height of 6’7”. While the team is young, they hope to smother foes with their stratospheric front line. The only nation that can match them redwood tree for redwood tree is Australia, which, aside from participating in the region for the first time along with New Zealand, has a squad that also averages 6’7” in height.

China’s got height, speed and shooting – key ingredients to winning a gold medal.

Familiar Chinese faces for the Philippines include shooter Li Gen, experienced swingman Zhou Peng and talented guard Guo Ailun.

Guo, the Liaoning Flying Leopards’ court general, is expected to lead China both on and off the court. The 6’4” point guard has range on his jumper, can find his teammates for gimmes and finish the break, and has some nasty handles. Guo gives China a solid starter at the point guard position that has always been their Achilles’ Heel.

The forecast is for the powerhouse squad to top Group B.