FIBA Asia: Phils plays Japan Today
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 05 Aug 2013
MANILA (PNA) ? Host Philippines battles dangerous Japan to start climbing the long and winding road towards its goal of making its to the quarterfinal round in Group E of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Filipinos and the Japanese, who both ended up seconds in Group A and Group B, respectively after the opening phase of the two-stage elimination, collide in the 8:30 p.m. main dish of a six-game schedule at the Pasay City hoophouse.
The Filipinos and the Japanese actually tote an identical 2-1 win-loss records in Group A and Group B, but will be carrying a 1-1 card going into this phase of qualifying, thus, needing to sweep their group to have a stronger chance advancing to the Final Eight.
Playing in Group E aside from the Philippines and Japan are Chinese-Taipei, which topped Group A, and Jordan. Top Group B qualifier Qatar and Hongkong.
No. 1 Group C Iran, South Korea and defending Champion China and no. 1 Group D qualifier Kazakhstan, Bahrain and India are playing in Group F.
Teams emerging with the best win-loss slates in Group E and Group F advance to the Final Four to dispute the taop two teams to fight it out for the championship and lead the three qualifiers that will represent Asia to the 2014 World Championship scheduled in Spain.
Today?s action start at 10:30 a.m. when Qatar and Jordan take each other with Iran and India facing each other at 12:45 p.m., Chinese Taipei battling Hongkong at 3 o?clock, Kazakstan opposing China at 5:45 and Korea taking on Bahrain in the 10:30 nightcap.
The Taiwanese foiled the Filipinos? bid to top Group A in the emotion-filled come-from-behind battle of Group A unbeaten squads Friday, 84-79 to enter this second phase of elimination unscathed at 2-0.
Trailing by 13 points, 55-68, at the end of the third quarter, the Taiwenese went to the three-point arc where they burned the hoiops five times, three of them in successive fashion to salvage the victory that led national head coach Chot Reyes inject politics into the otherwise sporting affair.
?I apologize t the Filipino overseas workers now in Taiwan for disappointing them in not winning this game,? Reyes declared during the post-game press conference inside the media room that caught those inside by surprise.
?To those Filipinos who have been victims of a a lot a abuse, I?m sorry. We could have won the game, but I erred in rotating my players as I should have,? he said, or something to that effect.
Reyes was referring to the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman at the West Philippine Sea by elements of the Philippine Coast Guard that resulted in controversy between peoples of the two countries.
The Taiwanese organizers of the annual Jones Cup which the Filipinos won last year even withdrew their invitation to the Philippines to defend their crown last July. There have been reports that Filipinos working in Taipei are being mistreated by their angry hosts.
Many believed that Reyes? statement could aggravate and add flame to the situation which was to have been already resolved.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
CATTERALL AND EUBANK CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH WELTERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN MANCHESTER ON JULY 5 LIVE ON DAZN
Sun, 18 May 2025Jayson Mama Set to Challenge for IBO World Super Flyweight Title in Johannesburg
Sat, 17 May 2025Fisher vs Allen 2: Can Johnny Make Necessary Improvements?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 17 May 2025Weights from Panamá City
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 17 May 2025CRUZ LANDS IBF ELIMINATOR AGAINST MISHIRO IN NEW YORK
Sat, 17 May 2025Fisher and Allen Hit the Scales Ahead of Highly Anticipated Heavyweight Rematch
Sat, 17 May 2025Boxing: Sport Entertainment or Entertainment Sport (Part Two)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 16 May 2025NYC PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES: BERLANGA VS. SHEERAZ / SHAKUR STEVENSON VS. WILLIAM ZEPEDA
Fri, 16 May 2025HALL OF FAME TRAINER FREDDIE ROACH TO BE HONORED BY THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IN PUBLIC CEREMONY AT FREDDIE'S GYM!
Fri, 16 May 2025HALL OF FAME BROADCASTER JIM LAMPLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
Fri, 16 May 2025Minnesota, Indiana Back Again in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 15 May 2025In Jonathan’s memory
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 15 May 2025WATCH: HITCHINS AND KAMBOSOS JR IN INTENSE FACE-OFF WITH ONE MONTH UNTIL NYC SHOWDOWN
Thu, 15 May 2025Toledo-Xignex Trojans finally win the PCAP online team chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 15 May 2025Former WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Nazarena Romero to Exercise Immediate Rematch Clause Against Mayelli Flores Rosquero
Thu, 15 May 2025