MANILA, Philippines – Tila nabunutan ng tinik ang head coach ng Lebanon matapos maisaayos ang puwestuhan para sa quarterfinals ng FIBA Asia Championshio kung saan makakalaban nila ang Pilipinas.
Minaliit ni Veselin Matic ang Pilipinas at ikinatuwa na hindi makakabangga ang defending champion na Iran.
"No Iran, now Philippines. We can play Philippines easy, easy," wika ng European coach.
Aniya sasalang sila bukas kontra Pilipinas ganap na 9:30 ng gabi na walang kaba sa kanilang mga dibdib.
"We are underdogs 100 percent but that's the best position when you're out. Everybody likes it. No pressure. You just have to play," dagdag ni Matic.
Hindi naman basta-basta si Matic na two-time FIBA Asia champion coach nang hawakan niya ang Iran.
Naniniwala siya na mas madaling kalaban ang Gilas kumpara sa Iran sa kabila ng banta ni Andray Blatche.
"We don't care too much. He's a very good player. I'm very surprised he's not in the NBA. His quality is of a tough, tough NBA player. But he's now a little bit out of shape. I have scouted him from the FIBA World Championship," sabi ni Matic.
Balewala na ang mga pinanalo sa unang dalawang round ng liga dahil knockout match ang format ng quarterfinals. Ang matatalo ay malalaglag, habang ang mananalo ay diretso sa semi-finals.
"This is a good matchup," patuloy ni Matic.
"We did our job to be No. 8. Now it's game by game. We came here to play game by game.”
Winalis ng Gilas ang second round kung saan pinabagsak nila ang Iran, 87-73.