Real test coming

The Philippines has qualified for the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah on Aug. 5-17 along with six other teams so Gilas' third window games against Chinese-Taipei tonight and New Zealand on Sunday are no-bearing.

- By JOAQUIN M. HENSON

But it doesn't mean Gilas won't come out to win. Coach Tim Cone isn't a believer in the philosophy of tanking. As it should be, every game counts. No-bearing isn't in the vocabulary of champion coaches.

Still, the reality is the Philippines booked a ticket to Jeddah after compiling a 4-0 record in the first two FIBA Asia Cup qualifying windows. The six other early qualifiers are New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Lebanon, Jordan and host Saudi Arabia. Expected to fill the remaining nine slots are China, South Korea, Iran, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Chinese-Taipei, India, Bahrain and Syria.