FIBA Asia Preview: Gilas Pilipinas vs Qatar

Game time: 8:30pm @ the MOA Arena

Recent History:

2012 FIBA Asia Cup: Qatar beat Gilas, 79-63 (battle for 3rd)

2010 Asian Games: Qatar over Gilas, 81-71 (battle for 5th); Gilas over Qatar, 90-68 (prelims) 

2009 FIBA Asia Tournament: Qatar over Powerade Team Pilipinas, 83-65 (5th-8th place games)

 

What Gilas should look out for:

1. Great wingmen: Jarvis Hayes, Daoud Musa Daoud, and Erfan Ali Saeed

All three of these guys are quicker than most power forwards in Asia and bigger/stronger than most wings. They are shifty, have great vision, and can shoot really well from long range. In fact, this trio is hitting from long distance at a 46.5% clip. They average about 7 threes a game combined. Needless to say, if these guys connect from beyond the arc, we might be in for a replay of the Taiwan game. 

2. Physicality

Another strength of this Qatari side is its sheer physicality. All their wingmen are built like rocks, and they can literally barrel through anybody when they chase their assignments on defense. Heck, even Ping and RDO might hit the deck when they attempt to set screens against these Qataris. Their bigs — Saeed (he can play SG, SF, and PF), Mohammed Yousef, and Yasseen Ismail Musa — are also quite physical down low, so Marcus Douthit, Japeth Aguilar, along with Marc Pingris and Ranidel De Ocampo, might need extra salonpas postgame.

3. Athleticism

Qatar is the first team so far that seems to be more athletic than we are. These guys, despite their ages, can all jump out of the gym and run like gazelles when chasing down loose balls. To counter, this, Marcus, Ping, and Japeth will all really have to “exchange faces” (makikipagpalitan ng mukha) with the opposition.

We can exploit:

1. Our speed advantage

Despite the Qataris’ athleticism, one thing we can still exploit is our speed. Perhaps the only guy who can match-up speed-wise with our PGs is Mansour El Hadary. If Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag and LA Tenorio can continue to consistently get by their defenders and set up our bigs and shooters, then this will be a long game for the Gulf champs.

2. Our shooting

Last night against Japan, we were red-hot, making 12/20 from rainbow country. That’s SIXTY PERCENT, folks. Jimmy, Jeff, and RDO all made at least 2 triples, and if they can approximate that level of accuracy again tonight, then Gilas shouldn’t have much trouble taking and keeping the lead. Also, I am looking forward to see if Gary David can finally erupt. And I mean ERUPT!!!

3. The boisterous crowd

As always, the huge and loud MOA Arena crowd should give us a big boost and unnerve the opposition at least in a few moments. If the chants of DE-FENSE and LABAN PILIPINAS, along with the classic WAVE, manage to get in Al Annabi’s heads, then Gilas should be in a great position to win.

4. An aggro Marcus Douthit

In his last game against Qatar (2012 FIBA Asia Cup battle for third), Marcus Douthit wasn’t able to outplay his counterpart at the pivot — Mohammed Yousef. Old-timer Yousef ended up with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks, including FOUR triples. I believe Douthit wants some retribution, and if he can be aggressive like he was like last night, then I believe that will be to Gilas’s advantage.

Even if Qatar, on paper at least, is tougher and deeper than the Japanese, I am still picking our boys to come out on top. Ultimately, I think the main key will be, like last night, stifling Qatar’s perimeter game and making our own outside shots.

Odds: 60-40 in favor of Gilas Pilipinas. – Rappler.com