By REYNALD MAGALLON
Gilas Pilipinas is taking its first acid test against a formidable Lebanon squad when it opens its FIBA Asia Cup 2022 campaign Wednesday at the Istora Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The youth-laden national team is testing its mettle against a Lebanese-side which according to coach Chot Reyes, has been playing their best basketball of late. Tip-off of the match is at 9 p.m. (Manila time).
Out to lead the charge for the Filipinos are the B.League imports Thirdy Ravena, Kiefer Ravena and Ray Parks Jr. as they join hands with a Gilas core that featured young guns in Korea-bound players RJ Abarrientos, SJ Belangel and Will Navarro along with Geo Chiu, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo and Francis Lopez. JP Erram will be the lone PBA call up in the roster as naturalized center Ange Kouame remains on the sick bay with a knee injury
Also notably missing in the squad is Dwight Ramos who after being named in the Gilas’ final roster, had to beg off due to a leg injury. Good thing, the FIBA technical committee approved the replacement of Rhenz Abando yesterday.
Lebanon, on the other hand, will be led by 6-foot-9 center Ali Haidar and 6-foot-4 guards Sergio El Darwich and Wael Arakji. The trio has been showing the way for Lebanon in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Haidar, one of the remnants of the Lebanese team that saw action in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Doha, Qatar has embraced the leadership role for the squad averaging 11.7 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Darwich and Arakji, meanwhile, have provided a potent back court for Lebanon averaging 11.2 points and 3.7 assists and 15.5 points and 4.2 rebounds respectively.
Also worth keeping an eye on in the game against Lebanon is its 6-foot-9 naturalized center Jonathan Aldrege who averaged 11.5 points and seven rebounds per game in the qualifiers.
In the head-to-head, Gilas split its last two meetings against Lebanon with the Filipinos taking an 82-70 win in the 2015 edition before the Lebanese exacted their revenge with a 106-87 drubbing of the PH bets in 2017.
