Gilas Pilipinas is settling for tuneup games with a trio of familiar foes as it enters the homestretch of its 2023 FIBA World Cup buildup while majority of the teams are rumbling against each other in preparation for their arrival in Manila.
Instead of taking part in high-profile pocket tournaments, Gilas Pilipinas will face Iran, Senegal and Lebanon in Guangdong, China, early next month and hope that it could arrange more tuneup matches with fellow World Cup squads before the inaugurals on 25 August.
“We want to make sure in China, we should be approaching competitive level already,” said Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes.
Less than a week before Manila welcomes all the teams, China is hosting the Solidarity Cup in Shenzhen where Brazil, Italy, New Zealand and Serbia are set to strut their stuff.
Before the Solidarity Cup, China is traveling to Germany for the Basketball Super Cup on 12 and 13 August where Canada and New Zealand are also suiting up alongside the Germans.
Italy also sees to be right on track as it is holding the Trentino Cup on 4 and 5 August with Cape Verde and Turkey participating.
Italy, which is included in the Group A bracket along with the Philippines, Angola and Dominican Republic in the FIBA World Cup, will also play in Greece from 8 to 10 August where Serbia is also listed.
Brazil will also play in Australia along with South Sudan and Venezuela from 14 to 17 August at the Rod Laver Arena.
