Gilas Pilipinas aims to cap off the fourth window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on a high note when it hosts Qatar on Monday, September 17, at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Philippines missed the mark regarding irritating Iran toward the beginning of the fourth window, yet they have a brilliant opportunity to bounce back against Qatar back home.
With chips on their collective shoulders and a point to prove, the Filipinos will take on a Qatari quintet that also suffered a loss on Day 1 of the Asian Qualifiers second round. Both squads are looking to recover lost ground, but with Team Pilipinas playing at home, they should have a slight edge.
Key matchup:
Many will remember Ngombo from his high flying days for Qatar in the FIBA Asia Challenge 2010 or Al Rayyan in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011, yet they may likewise recollect him as one of the players considered ineligible to play in the FIBA Asia Cup 2011. The 34-year-old wingman is back on the national group program as their naturalized player and was their driving scorer against Australia in their past match. Entrusted to back him off will be Gabe Norwood, who is Team Pilipinas' own cautious master. Norwood has the devices to stay with Ngombo, yet the touchy, Qatari wingman remains a potential risk to the Filipinos' designs of getting a win on their home floor.
X-factor:
One potential expert up the sleeve of Philippines head coach Yeng Guiao, however, is Filipino-American Stanley Pringle, who is relied upon to replace Christian Standhardinger as the group's naturalized player for their second task of the second round. Pringle appeared for the national group in the Asian Games 2018, and he ought to be a major catalyst of their offensive execution on Monday. The PBA star floor general is outstanding for his burst of speed, shooting and capacity to make a decisive final push around the basket, which implies Qatar's backcourt will have their hands full trying to keep in step with him.
Philippines outlook:
The Filipinos will probably have a rejigged list prepared to confront Al Annabi at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on 17 September, particularly with Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright as of now having served their 1-amusement suspensions. Anticipate that Aguilar will take Standhardinger's spot in the bleeding edge, while Wright will potentially supplant Allein Malicsi as one of the wingmen. In general, the Philippines should have a deeper roster when they play Qatar, and that implies their chances of snapping their two-game slide will increment. Obviously, a lot of it will in any case come down to execution, and without their fans filling up the Coliseum's stands, it'll be interesting to see how Team Pilipinas will adjust.
Qatar outlook:
The Qataris were not favored in their failed endeavor to derail Australia a couple of days ago, and they will stay as the underdogs here against a Philippine group hungry for victory. Qatar will be in franticness mode, however, since their 2-win, 5-misfortune slate has put them on the edge of getting eliminated outright from FIBA Basketball World Cup contention. Ngombo was their solitary splendid spot against the Boomers, so coach Tim Lewis, who knows the Filipino style of play great, should draw some enchantment from different sources like Hassan Mohamed, Khalid Suliman Abdi, Yehia Abdel Haleem, Emir Mujkic and Faris Avdic.
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