COUNT down is on for the FIBA World Cup we are hosting here.

And when it begins, all eyes will be on basketball as Gilas starts its campaign to move on to the next round, hoping to win at least two of its three games against Dominican Republic, Italy, and Angola, the only team ranked lower than us in Group A.

Other top-ranked countries with several teams featuring NBA players, of course including us with Jordan Clarkson, Italy, and Dominican Republic are the United States, Lithuania, Puerto Rico, Serbia, and New Zealand, at least among the teams seeing action in the country as we host Groups A,B, C, and D in the qualifying round.

Despite the stiff ticket prices, I am sure Filipino basketball fans will troop to the venues, the Philippine Arena, Smart-Araneta, and Mall of Asia Arena and as far as hosting the event, without doubt, we will be successful. This is an area of competency that we have shown to the world time and time in the past.

But not to wish rain on the parade, we will not be as successful inside the hardcourt, as Al Panlilio said, it was aspirational when he talked of getting those two wins.

In fact all of us dream of winning not just two games but all of our ganes and make it to the next round, dreaming again of making it to the Olympics.

With valid reasons or not, the fact is, our team was formed late, with the final line up to be known only two days before the tip off. Team chemistry is not developed in this way, sorry.

I think the only country in the world that can afford to do this and still be in contention is the United States. Truth is, Team USA was formed way ahead of us.

I have watched the Americans play some tune up games in YouTube, including against Spain. They were not dominant, particularly versus the Spanish side, but still won comfortably their games.

To think the team is without established superstars though with budding superstars, definitely, we do not have that kind of luxury.

Yes, we have grown, now with the likes of June Mar Fajardo and Kai Sotto in the middle, but still, other teams are taller and bigger.

One indication will be when we go up against the Dominican Republic with NBA All Star Karl Anthony Towns manning the slot and shooting his threes from everywhere. And that is our first game.

Next game is Angola on August 27, and the final game against a new-ok Italian team, the highest ranked in Group A.

Yes, Gilas has played tune up games, splitting its two games against Senegal and beating Iran’s Team B

Chot Reyes is hoping this experience helps the players adjust to their World Cup opponents.

Three more tune-up games will be played by Gilas against Ivory Coast, Montenegro, and Mexico before we see action versus KAT and company on August 25.

Clarkson, good as he is, cannot be expected to carry the team on his shoulders for those three games. For us to have a better chance, other players should step up, and as Joe Lipa told me in a recent interview, we need to make those three-point shots .

For sure, there will still be disagreements as to who should make it to the final 12 among the remaining 16 players.

For the record, the choices aside from Clarkson, Fajardo, and Sotto, are Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, CJ Perez, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, Rhenz Avando, Ray Parks, RR Pogoy, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Thirdy and Kieffer Ravena, and returning from injury Scottie Thomson.

Aside from including Fajardo and Sotto, okay I will add Ramos, Aguilar, and Malonzo. I will not go further and leave it to the coaching staff to pick the remainder, that is their job , their expertise.

I have said in the past that my interest has shifted more to women’s volleyball in terms of following it closely and personally watching games live I am still a basketball fan and will still be rooting for and cheering on the side our Gilas team.

Filipino fans should come out in droves and be the 6th man factor everytime our team plays, we all know how this hometown crowd support motivates athletes, and who knows, the heart may be a deciding factor in the games.

My prayers for the team and good luck.

LOOSE CHANGE: Rain or Shine has already lost its first four games in the Jones Cup in Taipei, losing in succession to two Chinese Taipei teams, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Is there a message behind? Of course…..Our boxing team may have its last international training stint in Canberra, Australia next month for its preparation for the Asian Games…..? Condolences to the family of former PSC Commissioner Tisha Abundo who passed away at the age of 74.

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Lito Cinco