Gilas Pilipinas grouped with tough New Zealand in FIBA Asia Cup

The Gilas Pilipinas national team avoided some tough opponents but will still have to contend with world no. 27 New Zealand in their group in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup this July in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In a draw ceremony held Friday, the Filipinos were pooled into Group D with India, Lebanon, and New Zealand.

Both India and New Zealand are also part of the Philippines' group in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The stage is set ????!!
See you in July ??#FIBAAsiaCup 2022 - Jakarta pic.twitter.com/vnkpl7y3TR

— ????FIBA Asia Cup (@FIBAAsiaCup) February 18, 2022

Meanwhile, host Indonesia is pooled with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and powerhouse Australia, which is the defending champion.

In Group B, world no. 29 China and no. 30 South Korea are with Bahrain and Chinese Taipei while completing Group C are Iran, Kazakhstan, Syria, and world no. 37 Japan.

The 2022 FIBA Asia Cup was originally scheduled as the 2021 edition that would have taken place in August 2021 but was postponed to a later date as organizers did not want to coincide with Tokyo Olympics' calendar.

It was again moved to July 12 to 24 in Jakarta.

—JMB, GMA News