IT IS on.
The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Manila leg kicks off today, highlighted by the much-anticipated battle between European powerhouse France and host Gilas Pilipinas at 9 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
It will be star-studded affair as NBA champions Tony Parker and Boris Diaw will lead France, ranked fifth in the world, against the Philippines, which will be spearheaded by the one-two punch of NBA veteran Andray Blatche and Jayson Castro, one of the premier guards in Asia, as well as a Filipino crowd tasked to wear white in support of the team.
Prior to this, the tournament’s opening game pits loaded nations Canada and Turkey at 6:30 p.m.
The Philippines, France, Canada, New Zealand, Turkey and Senegal are the countries competing in the six-nation tournament and only the champion will get a berth in the Rio Olympics next month.
Gilas Pilipinas, France and New Zealand are grouped together (Group B), while Canada, Turkey and Senegal are on the other (Group A). Teams will play their groupmates once, with the top two teams after the elimination round moving to the crossover semifinals to be played on Saturday.
Tomorrow, Gilas Pilipinas will be right back in action as it takes on New Zealand, also at 9 p.m., in its second and last game of the classification round, while Canada and Senegal lock horns at 6:30 p.m.
Gilas already had some break as Charlotte Hornets’ star Nicolas Batum is set to miss France’s first two games of the tournament due to contract concerns with his NBA team.
Still, France, which many consider as the pre-tournament favorite, will be a handful for the Philippines and for all the participating teams.
The Philippines would have to rely heavily on its advantage from the perimeter.
Parker even admitted that France is wary of the outside sniping of the Filipinos.
A win will move the victor closer to the semifinals.
Canada will be led by Cleveland Cavalier and fresh NBA titlist Tristan Thompson, while Turkey will have NBA banger Omar Azik on its side.
Gilas Pilipinas is set to do everything in its power to advance to the Rio Olympics and end its long dry spell.