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TOKUSHIMA, Japan: San Miguel-Pilipinas and dethroned
champion China, the two most dominant forces in Asia on different
decades, clash for 9th place Saturday in the 24th FIBA-Asia
Championship at the ASTY Tokushima Gym.
Both teams had their final
practice Friday, the Philippines first, from 10-11 a.m., followed by
China, from 11-12 noon.
The Chinese walked into the
playing venue just as the Nationals were stepping off the court.
Neither team acknowledged the other, providing a hint of how they
would be approaching the third and last of their virtual three-game
series this year.
The Mainlanders got the measure
of the PBA-backed national team during the 4-Nation Manila
Invitational Championship last month. But the Nationals got back at
the Chinese when it matter more—the FIBA-Asia, coming back from 12
points down in their preliminary round showdown to send the “Great
Wall” on its knees for the first time in 22 years.
“This campaign has gone from
being a quest for an Olympic berth to a quest for respect,” said
national coach Chot Reyes after the Kuwait game. “And the way we
play China would be a big part of that quest for respect.”
Reyes added: “We’re saving
our best for last.”
Jimmy Alapag, the lion-hearted
point guard of SMC-RP, had his stiff neck rubbed with oil by a team
masseur just before practice, and he spoke for the whole team.
“It was a lot worse the last
two days,” he said. “But our masseur has fixed it up real good
so I could play one more game. One more big game. I’ll be fine,
we’ll be fine, when China comes along.”
One won’t be, however.
Mark Caguioa, who hyper-extended
his right shoulder during the Syria game, will sit out the rubber
match with the Chinese.
“As much as I want to play, I
can’t risk aggravating my injury,” he said during practice. “I
can’t even raise my arm above my shoulders without experiencing so
much pain.”
Game time is set at 10:15 a.m.
Playing in the semifinal round
are Lebanon against South Korea at 5 p.m. and Iran against
Kazakhstan at 7:15 p.m.
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