Draw results for 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup: Gilas takes in familiar opponents

Gilas Pilipinas will be going up against Italy, Dominican Republic, and Angola in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

In a draw ceremony held at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, April 29, 2023, Gilas Pilipinas already determined their opponents in Group A with the host country getting teams that are familiar to them.

The Philippines squad got Italy and Angola, teams that they played and lost to during the 2019 edition of the Basketball World Cup. They will also play Dominican Republic, an opponent during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2021.

Gilas Pilipinas will take on Dominican Republic in their first game on August 25 at the Philippine Arena. They will then move to the Smart-Araneta Coliseum where they will go up against Angola on August 27 before ending the group stage against Italy on August 29.

“Good thing is that now, we have some clarity on who we are playing and what kind of preparation is necessary to be at our best come August,” said Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes.

Reyes sees the road to advancing to the second round of the Basketball World Cup as challenging.

“This is the World Cup so there’s no such thing as an easy draw,” said Reyes. “But the best way that I can categorize it, it’s not ideal but it could have been better.”

Reyes mentioned Angola as a superior opponent, and he even wished that Cote D’Ivoire as the last team drawn in Group A.

“I would have hope that the last pick was Ivory Coast instead of Angola because I thought Angola was the tougher team. Not that Ivory Coast is weak by any means. But other than that, it is what it is.