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| Another tournament, another future showdown between Gilas and New Zealand. Cesca Rampas (file photo) |
MANILA--From being longtime teammates with San Miguel, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, and Jericho Cruz get two games as enemies in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers as Fajardo and Perez's Gilas Pilipinas and Cruz's Guam are grouped together following the group draw early Wednesday (Philippine Time) in Doha.
Gilas and Guam are part of Group A, which is expected to be a tough group with Australia and New Zealand also drawn into it.
The top three teams from the said group after the first round of qualifiers will play the top three teams of Group C, which includes Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, in the second round as Group E.
Meanwhile, Group B consists of Japan, China, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei, while Qatar, the host of the FIBA World Cup main tournament in 2027, headlines Group D with Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and India.
The merger of Groups B and D come the second round will be known as Group F.
The top three teams from the second round groups, plus the best fourth-placed team, will enter the FIBA World Cup.
If Qatar makes it to the Top 4 in Group F, the fourth placer from Group E will automatically clinch a spot.
NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, who was once again tasked with being a global ambassador for the FIBA World Cup, took care of the draw process.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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