How Gilas can get #1 in Group E

MANILA, Philippines — I’m not too shabby with numbers, but there are times even these sports quotient things can be a little confusing, so, fortunately, my Math-wiz buddy from high school, Jay Santiago, was able to come up with the following permutations.

This is what we know right now:

– Chinese Taipei beat Gilas, 84-79

– Gilas beat Qatar, 80-70

This means that the current quotient indices among the three teams are the following:

– Philippines quotient is +5 (lost to TPE by 5 and beat QAT by 10)

– Chinese Taipei quotient is +5 (beat Gilas by 5)

– Qatar quotient is -10 (lost to Gilas by 10)

Today’s key game, therefore, is the 3:00pm match between Chinese Taipei and Qatar. In essence, the result of that game will determine the order of the top three teams in Group E.

Considering this, remember the following:

The tiebreaker for 3 teams that have the same standing at the end of round 2 is determined by Point Difference & Points Scored.

Here are possible scenarios:

1. If TPE wins by any margin, (1) TPE, (2) PHL, (3) QAT

– This means that Chinese Taipei will face Kazakhstan in the QFs, Gilas will play China, and Qatar plays Korea.

2. If QAT wins by 7 or less, (1) PHL, (2) TPE, (3) QAT

– This means that Gilas will face Kazakhstan in the QFs, Chinese Taipei plays China, and Qatar still plays Korea. 

3. If QAT wins by 8-14, (1) PHL, (2) QAT, (3) TPE

– Again, Gilas will face Kazakhstan in the QFs, but now it is Qatar who plays China, and Chinese Taipei who plays Korea.

4. If QAT wins by 16 or more, (1) QAT, (2) PHL, (3) TPE

– This scenario means Qatar plays Kazakhstan in the QFs, Gilas still plays China, and Chinese Taipei faces Korea.

5. Now if QAT wins by exactly 15 points, then things get even more interesting:

5.1. If QAT scores less than 90 points, then Gilas finishes #1 in Group E, Qatar gets #2, and Chinese Taipei is #3.

5.2. If QAT scores 90 or more, then Qatar finishes #1, Gilas is second, and Chinese Taipei is third.

My buddy, Jay, wants the eventual classifications to be Gilas at #1, Qatar at #2, and Chinese Taipei at #3, so that we have a chance to avenge the only first round loss should Chinese Taipei upset Korea.

I agree with him and hope that we have another shot at the Taiwanese, but I think the Qataris will probably bat for just a close W today. I doubt if they would go so far as to strain themselves and perhaps risk injury to try and blast a team as tough as Chinese Taipei by more than 15 points only to come up short and have the prospect of facing China in the next round.

I think Qatar would be happy to just beat Chinese Taipei even in a close match, finish third, and have good momentum heading into the knockout game against Korea.

Of course, in that scenario, Gilas tops Group E, too.

But the thing is even if Gilas does manage to get the first spot, that doesn’t mean we’ll have an easy time in the quarterfinals. Kazakhstan is a solid team that can give our team fits. Heck, Kazakhstan, on a good shooting night, is good enough to beat Gilas. 

So no matter what happens, whether we finish #1 or #2, we must rally behind our boys and be the big push they need to defeat whomever they will face.

Still, go TEAM QATAR! But not more than 14 points! – Rappler.com