Beware of Chinese-Taipei

Gilas' first obstacle is Chinese-Taipei at the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah and the game is set to be played at two this morning (Manila time).

- By JOAQUIN M. HENSON

Since the 2009 FIBA Asia Cup, the Philippines and Chinese-Taipei tangled in seven games with Gilas winning five. But Chinese-Taipei brought down the Philippines in their last outing, a 91-84 decision before a cheering homecrowd. Before that, the Philippines had blown out Chinese-Taipei, 106-53, at the PhilSports Arena.

Coach Tim Cone is deploying the same lineup that bowed to Chinese-Taipei last February while Taiwan is bringing back eight to Jeddah. Missing from the Chinese-Taipei cast are Lu Chun Hsiang, Shao Fu Lan, Ai Che Yu and Kuei Yu Chou. In their place were enlisted Robert and Adam Hinton, Hu Long Mao and Chen Ying Chun, all with US collegiate playing creds.