How will Gilas perform in the 1st two rounds (based on NZ sample results)

One of the things we wanted to achieve with Gilas NZ tour was to replicate the 1^st two rounds of FIBA Asia using a 3 straight games then rest and another 3 straight games format.  While obviously not exactly the same, let me try as best as possible to compare the teams Gilas played & the results in NZ with who we’re projected to play & possible outcomes in the 1^st , two round in FIBA Asia

Day 1:  Gilas played the Hawks in NZ  ,  Gilas will play Saudi Arabia in FIBA Asia

-      Chot mentioned before the  Hawks game , this is August 1, were playing against Saudi , let’s come out strong.  This Hawks team actually was strong- it’s backcourt featured 2 current Tall Blacks , Kenny (PG) , Bartlet (SG) at SF they had former Tall Black ( The rock as nick named by the Gilas boys cause he looks like the Rock) , Tweener Forward , (Prewster) who was a Tall black pool memberthis year. 2 imports 6’8 Kareem Johnson , and 6’9 Serb (Darko ) these 2 imports outplayed Marcus.  As you can see the Hawks team was vastly superior to what the Saudi’s are,  In fact I think they are even better the Chinese Tiapei or Jordan. Yet Gilas beat this team away from home (game was closed though)

-      Grade: PASS

Day 2: Gilas played the Hawks again, Gilas will play Jordan in FIBA Asia (reinforced by Baxter)

-      Hawks minus PG Kenny and import Kareem who failed to play for the Hawks,  it is arguable if this Hawks team is stronger than Jordan , but it still is definitely stronger than Saudi, this game was not as close as the 1^st game, but was still tight. Collectively the trio of Barlet, the Rock and Prewster. All stading between 6’4 and 6’6 can approximate a Baxter.  I doubt Jordan also has players equivalent to the big Darko. (who once again outplayed Marcus)

-      Grade- Neutral

Day 3 :Gilas played the NBL selection, Gilas will play Chinese Tiapei in FIBA

-      This NBL selection by far is superior talent wise, it featured, bigs Darko and Kareem , Bull strong 6’9 “centre Atkins, Versatile big BJ Anthony ( 6, 8”) and 6’8 Small forward Marcel Jones. What it didn’t have is the chemistry and cohesion Chinese –Tiapei. While we lost by 1,  the game actually was decided with more than a minute left. (David made a meaningless 3 pointer when time expired)

-      Grade- PASS

Day 4  After a one day Break Gilas played the Saints , Gilas could play HK in the 1^st game of round 2.

-      The Saints were a real team , reeling of disappointment loss 3 days ago.  They wanted to show some pride.  The frontcourt was pretty good, 6’8 center Trousdale (former Tall Black) , PF (point forward) great Dillion Boucher and 6,7  athletic import Markson -  Obviously there is no comparison with HK, in fact the Saints team was more like Chinese tiapei. (Talent & chemistry wise)    On this day Gilas actually played bad , were outworked and outhustled by the Saints. (Marus didn’t play)  They really got a tough lashing from the coaches , so while they didn’t face a weak team like HK, they underperformed in what was supposed to be a big game where they needed to play well.

-      Grade : FAIL

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Day 5-  Gilas played the weakest NZ team the Rangers,  Gilas could play Japan in FIBA asia

-      While I wouldn’t say Japan is just as strong as the Rangers , they actually were not bad, their frontline avg 6’7 in height and had Boucher. (from a organiser standpoint I was disappointed with who the Rangers put on the court, I actually secured agreement from 2 imports Kareem and Darko to reinforce the Rangers, yet the Rangers coach decided to go without them , they pocketed the ticket sales) , anyway minus Marcus we played actually soft in the 1^st half ( Chot said parang kayo mga bakla mag foul), anyway Gilas just had enough to rely on talent to win convincingly (18 pts).

-      Grade- Neutral  

Day 6 – Gilas played the Tall Blacks , Gilas could play Qatar here (Jervis Hayes)

-      While the Tall Blacks may have seemed uncohesive at this point having just been assembled a day before, they were surprisingly very well organised, a testament to the continuous system coach Nenad has put in place the last few years.  While Jervis and whoever Qatar puts on the court will be athletic and talented, I really don’t see them as being as talented as the Tall Blacks. Chot himself mentioned we will not meet a team this talented (except China and Iran) in FIBA Asia, yet our team played their best game ever, losing by 1 on a controversial call away from home

-      Grade- PASS

Final Grade-  While Gilas went (Wins 3 and loss 3) in NZ , which is not good enough to top Group E. considering the stronger competition and that we were playing on the road , I can easily see Gilas going 4 wins- 2 losses or 5 wins -1 loss.  Gilas actually in my assessment should place in the top 2 in