By REYNALD MAGALLON
The road for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup now gets clearer as its group stage opponents have finally been identified following the results of the draw ceremony at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, April 29.
The Nationals will have the work cut out for themselves as they face world No. 10 Italy, No. 24 Dominican Republic, and No. 41 Angola which were all drawn in Group A which will be played at the Big Dome and the Philippine Arena.
Newly-minted NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero along with guys like Marco Bellinelli and Danilo Gallinari are expected to spearhead the Italians while top NBA big men Karl Anthony Towns and Al Horford are seen to reinforce Dominican Republic for the world meet.
It will also be a rematch of sorts between Gilas and Angola who first faced each other in the 2019 World Cup with the former also getting a chance for redemption against the latter which won the contest, 84-81 in China.
Italy and the Dominican Republic, likewise, are not entirely new to Gilas.
The Philippines played Italy in the 2019 edition while the Filipinos faced Dominican Republic in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament in 2021.
Meanwhile, the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City will be the battleground for the group of death Group C where USA was drawn with European powerhouse Greece along with New Zealand and Jordan.
USA is expected to be reinforced by NBA superstars like Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Lebron James while Greece will be bannered by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Also set to see action in the Big Dome is the Nikola Jokic-led Serbia who was picked in Group B with South Sudan, China and Puerto Rico while Domantas Sabonis and Lithuania will take on Egypt, Mexico and Montenegro in Group D action at the MOA Arena.
In Okinawa Arena in Japan, world no. 3 Australia will have its hand full against Germany, Finland and Japan in Group E while Luka Doncic and Slovenia are set to lock horns with Cape Verde, Georgia and Venezuela in Group F.
The Jakarta Arena in Indonesia, meanwhile, will be the venue where the defending champion Spain will start its title-retention bid when it goes up against Iran, Ivory Coast and Brazil in Group G. Group H action, on the other hand, will feature Canada, Latvia, Lebanon and France.
