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Gilas character to be tested tonight against Chinese Taipei
Gilas Pilipinas character will be tested tonight, February 20, when they face a Chinese Taipei team that's fighting for survival in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers at 7:00 PM at the Taipei Heping basketball gymnasium.
The Philippine team will put their unbeaten record on the line against the home team that is seeking to finish third place in Group B and make it to the Qualifying Tournament among third placed teams and a possible last-minute shot of making it to Jeddah.
Gilas are on top of Group B with a 4-0 win-loss record, followed by the New Zealand Tall Blacks with a 3-1 slate, then the Taipei team sitting in third with a 1-3 record, while Hong Kong is still winless in four games.
Though the Filipinos have already qualified for the Asian Cup tournament set in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from August 5-17, Gilas head coach Tim Cone emphasized that they will use this third and final window as preparation for the said tourney.
After their game tonight, Gilas will have another battle on February 23 against New Zealand in Auckland.
Like Gilas, the Tall Blacks have already qualified for the Asian Cup and will also use the final window to prepare for the next battle.
Photo Courtesy: SBP
"That's what being a professional basketball player is all about. You have to be ready to play regardless of where and what time. You got to put your best foot forward at all times," said Chris Newsome
On the other hand, the Taiwanese had other plans and would like to add another win to their record as they only have one win so far, when they defeated the Hong Kong team, 88-55. They will once again meet on February 23 in Hong Kong, China.
Another character test for the Philippine team is that they came off a five-day, three-game friendly in Doha, Qatar, where they ended up with a 1-2 record, its lone win coming at the expense of the home team, 74-71.
And in tonight's game, Gilas is expected to show how they carry themselves in these kinds of situations that they might encounter again in the future.
"That's what being a professional basketball player is all about. You have to be ready to play regardless of where and what time. You got to put your best foot forward at all times," said Chris Newsome regarding their national team duties where they have to play five games in three different countries in just about a week.
"Tough schedule, but that's just the way it is this window," Dwight Ramos added.
In their first encounter last year, the Philippines defeated Chinese Taipei, 106-53, at the Philsports Arena.
