Philippines choose Chinese Taipei, Jordan, Saudi Arabia group in FIBA Asia

With its privilege to choose its group as host of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, the Philippines on Thursday wisely avoided a tough group and was bracketed along with Chinese Taipei, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia in the preliminary round of the tournament.

The country chose to be in Group A after a consultation with SMART-Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, who monitored the proceedings from Lithuania.

Group C, composed of defending champion China, two-time tournament winner Iran, and perennial contender South Korea along with the second qualifier from Southeast Asia, figures to be the “Group of Death”.

The Philippines’ grouping choice means a good finish in the first two rounds of the tournament would allow the team to avoid the powerhouse teams from that group until the knockout stages of the tournament.

The preliminary grouping also gives Gilas an early meeting with Chinese Taipei amid tension between Taiwan and the Philippines. Organizers of the William Jones Cup in Taiwan withdrew its invitation for Gilas last month, leading to furor among Filipino basketball fans.

The top three teams from each group move into the second round of competition, where it will play a crossover round with the other qualifiers from the adjacent group. The top four teams from each combined group in the second round will then move into the knockout quarterfinal rounds.

Below are the full results of Thursday’s draw.

Group A: Jordan, Chinese Taipei, Saudi Arabia, Philippines

Group B: Japan, Qatar, Lebanon, HongKong

Group C: China, South Korea, Iran, Malaysia

Group D: Kazakhstan, India, Bahrain, Thailand

 HOW THE FIBA Asia Championship tournament FORMAT WORKS? CLICKHERE

article source: interaksyon.com

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