ONCE Team Philippines sweeps its games in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association championship they will not only earn the crown, they will also qualify for the FIBA Asia Championships in Beirut.
Home and away games in that qualifying competition will begin in November for Gilas Pilipinas.
“This is first step for the next tournaments that come after,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio of the 2017 Southeast Asia Basketball Association competition.
The task is almost complete for the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team.
Another win will hand Team Philippines the 2017 championship.
This is just the start of the long road to the qualification round of the 2019 Fiba Basketball World Cup and the 2020 Rio Olympics.
“But, first we have to complete the task at hand. We have to win here first,” said Panlilio after he watched Gilas Pilipinas beat Thailand, 108-53, Tuesday evening at the Araneta Coliseum.
Panlilio was with businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan when Gilas used its height and speed advantage to stop the prolific Chitchai Ananti.
They watched as Gilas Pilipinas picked up their fourth straight victory with the win over Thailand to move closer to the Seaba crown.
Defense was focused on Ananti, who was held scoreless in the 15 minutes of action.
Japeth Aguilar topscored for 23 points while Calvin Abueva had 15 points in a big effort that put the Team Pilipinas into a share of the lead with Indonesia.
Indonesia and the Philippines are fighting for the lone qualification slot to the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup.
In the third quarter, Gilas leaned on an 8-0 run to post an 80-41 edge off a triple from Troy Rosario in the remaining 58 seconds.
In the fourth quarter, Jalalon struck twice during a 13-0 spurt that handed Gilas their biggest edge for the game, which was by 59 points, 108-49, in the final 1:41.
Teerawat Chantachon tallied 16 points for the Thais, who are in third with their 3-2 win-loss record.
