Having new players enables us to raise our game - Matthew Wright

MANILA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Having new players in the Philippines pool has excited Matthew Wright, who is looking forward to more wins in the second round of the Asian Qualifiers.

With several of their biggest names unavailable to play in the fourth window, Team Pilipinas had to call up some players who have either not played in a long time or have not played in a FIBA Asia match at all. Still, Wright and new head coach Yeng Guiao welcomed this development, seeing it as a chance to discover new guys who could contribute to the national team and a way to push the veterans to raise their level of play.

"We were able to eye some talent that we haven't had in some time like Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot and Scottie Thompson," Wright said. "They were able to get their international feet wet to play against some top competition in Asia. Having them around enables us to raise our game to yet another level."

Wright himself was forced to try and step up for the Philippines. He averaged just 3.8 points in his last four games prior to the second round, and though he started slow against Qatar, he picked it up eventually to finish with 6 points and 4 rebounds.

For the 27-year-old three-point specialist, it was strange not having their thousands of screaming fans buoying their spirits when they played against Al Annabi, but he's just happy they pulled out their fifth win of the competition.

"We rely on our fans to give us a boost in morale," he explained. "They rally us, so it was a little difficult playing that game against Qatar without the fans there, but we were able to pull out the win."

Looking ahead, Wright knows the games are not going to get any easier, especially as they will face Iran again int he next window, though this time around they will be at home with the fans present. The Canadian-born Wright feels this will be a difference-maker for the Filipinos as they hope to clinch a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

"Iran's going to be a tough game with Haddadi in the middle," he said. "Their size bothered us a bit before, but if we knock down our shots and play our style of basketball along with the fans behind us, we can win that game."

The Philippines play at home in the next window, first taking on Kazakhstan on 30 November and then squaring off with Iran anew on 3 December.

FIBA