Gilas Pilipinas completes first practice in China for FIBA Asia

The Philippine national team completed its first practice on Chinese soil on Tuesday, a day before it plunges into action in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

 

"First practice here in Changsha in the books. All ready for tomorrow," Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach Josh Reyes said in a post on Instagram on Tuesday afternoon.

 

 

The Filipinos will open their campaign on Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. in Group B of the tournament against a Palestine side led by former GlobalPort import Omar Krayem.

 

Gilas will then battle Hong Kong on Thursday before taking on Kuwait on Friday to complete its preliminary round schedule.

 

The top three teams from each group moves into the second round of the tournament.

 

The competition figures to get tougher for the Philippines then, when it could face the qualifiers from Group A — a bunch comprised of defending champion Iran, Japan, Malaysia, and India.

 

Under new coach Tab Baldwin, Gilas is trying to do one better than its silver medal finish in the 2013 edition of the tournament. The prize for the winner of the competition is a spot in next year's Olympic basketball tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. —JST, GMA News