Gilas tackles Palestine in 2015 FIBA Asia qualifying round

They gave up 10 unanswered points to Palestine, however, capped by a three-pointer by Shamala with 1:35 to go that gave Palestine their first lead of the game at 72-71.

The long road for Gilas Pilipinas to secure a slot in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics begins today (Sept 23) at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in China.

The Philippines, which finished runner-up in the 2013 FIBA Asia tilt in Manila, is among those touted to be a contender for this year’s crown, along with defending champion Iran and host China, and was considered a favorite in Group B, where they were pooled with Palestine, Hong Kong and Kuwait.

In a huge upset, Palestine overhauled a double-digit deficit to stun Gilas Pilipinas, 75-73, in their first game of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, China, on Wednesday.

“(We still have) more days ahead of us to prepare. Each team will be different from the other. “Those games should help us for the games in the latter rounds where you’re gonna play the top teams in Asia”, Baldwin said. “They’re trying to make a mark and then there’s lessons to learn”.

Leading the Palestine are 6-foot-8 forward Salim Sakakini and 6-foot-5 shooting guard Nicola Fadayel, while Omar Krayem, a point guard who played for Globalport as Asian reinforcement of Batang Pier during the Governors’ Cup. Former National Basketball Association player Andray Blatche paced the losing side with 21 points and 12 rebounds, but he shot just 7-of-18 from the field.

Gilas Pilipinas has not been to the Olympics since 1972 in Munich and it has been almost 30 years since it dominated the Asian championship.

Pangilinan said that Gilas assistant coach Jong Uichico told him when they were in Taipei for the Jones Cup that “this is a special team”.

But the country suffered a surprising setback in its very first game against a team that, while boasting of some talented players, is marking its debut on this level of worldwide play. Dondon Hontiveros, JC Intal, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Sonny Thoss, Gabe Norwood, Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva, and Terrence Romeo complete the team. He averaged 20.4 points and 11.9 rebounds for Hoops Club in Lebanon’s pro league recently.