Philippines banking on rabid fan support in OQT

MANILA (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Drawing France in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) taking place in Manila, Philippines wasn't what most Filipino hoop nuts were praying for. This despite the fact the Gilas Pilipinas team lost to France by just 7 points in their last meeting way back in 2014.

The Pinoys are right to fear France, though, especially since Les Bleus lost just one of their nine games at EuroBasket 2015 and very nearly booked an outright ticket to the Rio de Janeiro Games. Of course, there is also no discounting France's slew of NBA talent.

Aside from the European powerhouse, though, the Philippines have a lot more to worry about. Their other group play foe, New Zealand, is definitely no slouch. The Kiwis actually defeated the French at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Turkey, 82-70, which is enough proof of their depth and quality.

Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin knows this all too well, of course, helming New Zealand from 2001 to 2006.

"I think a lot of people are under-selling the strength of New Zealand," Baldwin said in an interview after Tuesday's draw. "New Zealand is a team that last year beat China in China to win the Stankovic Cup, which was no mean feat." 

With France the highest-ranked team in this event, it seems the Tall Blacks have been anointed by many Filipinos as the more "beatable" opponents, but they would do well to avoid underestimating anybody, especially a team that can bring in solid NBA center Steven Adams.

"If they are able to get Steven Adams to play for them this summer, then you know, they are a real darkhorse in terms of their ability to win this tournament in the Philippines," Baldwin added.

Still, despite the very tough road ahead, the vibe in Manila is that this is a win-win situation for some of the most rabid basketball fans in the world.

Some of the real strong teams landed in our pool. It will be a great entertainment for our fans but a difficult road for Gilas. - Baldwin

 

The fans are the main advantage, the sixth man if you will, that Gilas Pilipinas will enjoy by virtue of playing at home. This is a squad that has not hosted a world-level basketball tournament in decades, so it will be very interesting to see how much of a boost the hometown crowd can give their harcourt heroes.

Sonny Barrios, the Executive Director of the Philippines Basketball Federation (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) believes it will be a significant edge for the Philippines.

At the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, we saw how our team was inspired by the home crowd… No one was surprised when, at the FIBA [Basketball] World Cup in 2014, the Philippines was named the country with the Most Valuable Fans. - Barrios

Even Manny V. Pangilinan, Gilas Pilipinas's most well-known sponsor, thinks that the Filipino national side can, indeed, shock the world.

Without a doubt, the Philippines will be a dark horse in their group. They, after all, are ranked lower than France (#5) and New Zealand (#21) in the FIBA World Ranking Men.

But if their most recent performance at the world level is any indication, the Philippines may just spring a few surprises, especially if NBA rising star Jordan Clarkson comes aboard as planned and teams up with former NBA big man Andray Blatche.

FIBA