Gilas Pilipinas remains undaunted despite their loss to the Dominican Republic in a crucial game, as they head into their next match against Angola in the Group A action of the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The game will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, August 27.
The Philippine national basketball team is determined to secure a spot in the next round, facing an equally desperate Angolan squad in the 8 p.m. encounter. Despite the challenging task ahead, Gilas Pilipinas is unfazed, buoyed by their performance against the Dominicans in their first game and the overwhelming support of 38,115 Filipino basketball fans who attended the game at the Philippine Arena, setting a new almost two-decade attendance record for a FIBA game.
The upcoming game between Italy and the Dominican Republic, both opening day winners, adds excitement to the event as they battle for the top spot in the group. Interestingly, even after their loss, Gilas Pilipinas is brimming with confidence, knowing they can compete against Angola, a team boasting NBA All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Gilas head coach Chot Reyes commended the fighting spirit of his players despite the setback, particularly highlighting the performance of Jordan Clarkson, who scored 28 points before fouling out in the final quarter. Alongside Clarkson, AJ Edu and June Mar Fajardo proved their worth, especially in their defensive efforts against the tall Dominican frontline led by Towns.
They now face the task of containing another NBA player, 6-foot-10 Bruno Fernando of Angola. However, Reyes is more concerned with fine-tuning Gilas’ offense, as they committed 19 turnovers in the previous game against the Dominican Republic.
Reyes emphasized the need to cope with Angola’s defensive pressure, acknowledging that turnovers and allowing offensive rebounds were costly in their previous game. Angola is also coming off a loss against Italy, but they showed resilience against the strong Italian team, staying within striking distance until the final quarter.
Despite the loss to the Dominican Republic, Gilas Pilipinas remains determined and focused on their upcoming match against Angola, with the hope of securing a win and advancing to the next round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
