Gilas will play final tuneup game vs Turkey

Photo by: Soriaga9272

Before plunging into the real war, the Philippine national men’s basketball team test its wares one last time against Turkey in a FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament tuneup game on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Gilas Pilipinas and the 12 Giant Men tussle at 7 p.m. with live coverage on TV5.

This is the second meeting of the two squads both aiming for that prestigious ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Gilas Pilipinas’ first encounter with Turkey was anything but inspiring as the overmatched Filipinos succumbed to a 103-68 beatdown last June 22 in Istanbul.

It was the first competitive game of Gilas Pilipinas as a team, and it remains to be seen how the Filipinos have improved nine days since they first clashed.

Suiting up for coach Tab Baldwin are the 12 players he handpicked to represent the country in the tournament: Andray Blatche, Jayson Castro, June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel De Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Japeth Aguilar, Ray Parks, Jeff Chan, Terrence Romeo, Troy Rosario and Ryan Reyes.

Turkey is leaning on its top players in New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik, 2015 NBA Draft pick Cedi Osman, former NBA player Semih Erden and naturalized player Ali Muhammed.

source: interaksyon.com