CHINESE Taipei serves as the acid test of Gilas Pilipinas when it opens its FIBA Asia Cup campaign in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Filipinos and Taiwanese tangle on the second day of the meet (Aug. 6) in the first game of a quadruple header at the King Abdullah Sports City.
The Philippines and Chinese Taipei are bracketed in Group D together with New Zealand and Iraq.
On August 8, the Filipinos face the Tall Blacks, before capping their group stage schedule against Iraq on August 10.
The top three teams in each of the four groups will advance to the playoffs.
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The Filipinos lost their last outing against the Taiwanese during the Asia Cup qualifiers, 91-84, in Taipei.
They likewise suffered the same result against the Tall Blacks, 87-70, in Auckland.
Yet despite the back-to-back losses to end its campaign in the qualifiers, Gilas still finished second in its group to advance in the tournament proper.
The Philippine team won't be having foreign trips for the Asia Cup and is expected to depart for Saudi Arabia either by August 1 or 2. (RG)
