FIBA Asia (Photo : FIBA)
The Philippines may have gotten a lucky break after learning they aren't going to face a team from Korea, Iran and host country China until the Finals, but everybody on the team knows how difficult the road will be towards the elusive gold medal at FIBA Championship.
On Thursday, all eyes will be on Gilas Pilipinas as they take on battle-tested Lebanon in the final quarterfinal match of the evening. Philippines, who secured the top seeding in Group E after stunning Iran in their second round encounter, looks to prove their early success isn't a fluke against a Lebanon team that is a lot deadlier than the seeding presents.
Word War Between Coaches:
"No Iran, now Philippines. We can play Philippines easy, easy," said the European coach in broken English. "We are underdogs 100 percent but that's the best position when you're out. Everybody likes it. No pressure. You just have to play," Lebanon head coach Vaselin Matic on the prospect of facing the Philippines instead of Iran in the quarterfinals.
He is just throwing that out to you (media) to print it. His team is a strong team. They came here to advance deep in this tournament like we did. They're placed to do that, we're placed a little better to do that. "I will guarantee you, he will come into that game thinking he can win."
"He is just throwing that out to you (media) to print it. His team is a strong team. They came here to advance deep in this tournament like we did. They're placed to do that, we're placed a little better to do that," Tab Baldwin's retaliation to Matec's comment.
Live stream is available on Sports5.ph, Live Basketball TV and Sports Stream. Updates, box score stats and play-by-play commentaries are posted on FIBA Asia 2015 Live Score. For Twitter update, go to Gilas Army@Twitter.
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FIBA Asia Semi-final 2015: Philippines vs. Japan, China vs. Iran Live Stream, Box Scores, Play-by-Play Stats & Updates- Click Here
