SAMAHANG B Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Ricky Vargas believes that the men’s national team could pull win on enemy in the third window of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 2027 World Cup Asia Qualifiers.
Vargas said he believes in how head coach Tim Cone compares the games against New Zealand and Australiua as a ‘Game 7 in a finals series,’
‘Every game is a new game and I do not look at the history of losses,’ Vargas said. ‘There is always a chance that we can beat the team that we have never been able to beat for a long time.’
‘I look at the opportunity that we can win,’ he added.
Vargas arrived in at Auckland on Wednesday, two days ahead of Gilas Pilipinas’ 3 p.m. game against the Tall Blacks at the Spark Arena on Friday, but said he might miss the match against Australia on Monday in Perth.
Gilas has beaten the Kiwis, 93-89, on November 21, 2023, during the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers at the SM Mall of Asia Arena behind Justin Brownlee’s 26 points and 11 rebounds and Kai Sotto’s 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
The Tall Blacks, however, fought back in the second window last February, 69-66, also in the same Pasay City facility with Brownlee limited to only four points on 2-of-10 shooting.
Sotto won’t be around this time as he preferred to prioritize his dream to play in theNational Basketball Association.
But Vargas remained confident.
‘Every game we play, we play our best … and a chance to win is there,’ he said. ‘I look forward to a team that is going to fight and committed to play for the country, and they will do their best plus their good character.’
‘They are the best team that we will sent to New Zealand,’ he added.
With Brownlee are 6-foot-8 Mike Philips, Troy Rosario, Juan Gomez de Liaño, June Mar Fajardo, Kevin Quiambao, Chris Newsome, Justin Baltazar, Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu and RJ Abarrientos.