‘GILAS HAS LEGIT CHANCE'

Newly-designated Gilas assistant coach Sean Chambers isn't fazed by the daunting odds that confront the national squad in the six-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia, on July 2-7 and said there's a "legitimate chance" to make it to Paris before leaving for Europe last Tuesday night.

- JOAQUIN HENSON

Only the OQT winner will claim the ticket to Paris. The Philippines is bracketed with Latvia and Georgia in the group stage from where the top two finishers emerge to battle in the KO semifinals on the way to the final. The other group consists of Brazil, Montenegro and Cameroon. Gilas will play two friendlies en route to Riga. First will be at the Akatlar Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, today and second at the Sosnowiec Arena in Sosnowiec, Poland, on Saturday. In Riga, Gilas faces Latvia on July 3 a