Yeng, Gilas seek elusive first World Cup win

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sat, 07 Sep 2019 08:41:31 +0000

Gilas Pilipinas hopes to end its disastrous FIBA World Cup campaign on a bright note in Sunday’s classification round match against Iran at the Wukesong Sports Arena in Beijing.

CJ Perez hopes to deliver in Sunday’s all-important game against Iran.

The national cagers try to finally get a win that eluded them for four games in Foshan and the Chinese capital while also looking to spoil Iran’s quest to secure a direct slot to the Tokyo Olympics.

Game is set at 8 p.m. with Gilas also eyeing a slot in next year’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the country’s last chance of making the Tokyo Games.

One thing that concerns Gilas is whether confidence has become an issue after losing a combined margin of 105 points to Italy and Serbia, a heartbreaking overtime setback opposite Angola and an 86-67 defeat to Tunisia.

Friday’s loss to Tunisia coupled with China’s 77-73 win over South Korea in Guangzhou ended Gilas’ quest of an outright Olympic slot.

While having a good chance of beating Iran, Gilas failed to get to score one during their two encounters in last year’s World Cup Asian Qualiifers.

The Nationals fell 81-73 to the Iranians in Tehran last Sept. 13 before failing to capitalize on the absence of Hamed Haddadi and Samad Nikkah Bahrami and dropped a 78-70 decision in early-December at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Haddadi and Bahrami are back in the world stage for the Irani
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