Powerade five can't take Kuwait lightly

MANILA, Philippines - Kuwait is the last team that Powerade Team Pilipinas will face before the FIBA-Asia knockout quarterfinals start on Friday in Tianjin and it’s a game coach Yeng Guiao can’t afford to lose.

The Philippines is safely in the eight-team quarterfinals but what Guiao is avoiding is a matchup against powerhouse China, expected to finish No. 1 from Groups C and D, now consolidated into Group F.

If the Philippines loses to Kuwait, it will end up with a record of 2-3. That will drop Powerade to No. 4 in the seedings of Groups A and B, now combined into Group E. If Chinese-Taipei also makes it to 2-3, Taiwan will be ranked No. 3 because of a superior quotient over Powerade.

Under FIBA rules, the quotient takes into account points for and against in all games, excluding those against eliminated teams. It will not matter that the Philippines beat Taiwan, 77-70, last Monday because the winner-over-the-other rule doesn’t apply. And the Philippines’ 84-point win over Sri Lanka, booted out in the first phase of eliminations, isn’t counted in the quotient. This interpretation is based on previous FIBA-Asia Championships. Confirmation on the application of the quotient system was being awaited at presstime.

Before yesterday’s games, the Philippines had a +3 quotient while Chinese-Taipei, +11.

There will be no complications if the Philippines beats Kuwait at 9 this morning. A win will raise Powerade’s record to 3-2 and unless Chinese-Taipei upset South Korea yesterday, Taiwan will wind up at 2-3, assuming a win over Japan today.

If the Philippines lands at No. 3, it will battle No. 2 from Group F in the knockout quarterfinals. Tipped to rank No. 2 in Group F is Jordan. If the Philippines is No. 4, it will play Group F No. 1 China.

Kuwait is ranked No. 52 in the FIBA world rankings. The Philippines is No. 62.

Only two Kuwait players averaged in double figures after four games in Tianjin – 6-4 Mohammad Ashkanani (11.5) and 6-2 Rashed Alrabah (10.9). As a team, Kuwait shot only .367 from the floor, .246 from three-point distance and .583 from the line.

What makes Kuwait a dangerous proposition is the unpredictability of its Serbian coach Zoran Kreckovic, described by FIBA-Asia as “a crafty customer (who) can pull off a surprise or two, the superior opposition notwithstanding.”

Kuwait’s defense is also underrated. Against South Korea last Monday, Kuwait limited the Group A topnotcher to only seven points in the second period. Still, the Koreans had more than enough to spare and won handily, 78-58. Shayee Saeed, a 5-11 guard, erupted for 18 points to lead Kuwait’s charge. But it was 6-3 Muhammad Almutairi who provided the spark in the attack with 3-of-4 triples to score 14.

Kuwait’s only win so far was a 69-64 squeaker over Uzbekistan as Alrabah compiled 19 points, five rebounds and five assists. Kuwait was miserable in losing to Iran by 48 and Chinese-Taipei by 22.

Kuwait’s drawbacks are lack of size, poor outside shooting and questionable ballhandling skills. But on a good day, Kuwait could pull off an upset if Kreckovic is inspired and Ashkanani, Alrabah, Saeed and Almutairi are on target.

Kuwait, the FIBA-Asia fourth placer in 1983, crushed the Philippines, 79-66, at the 2003 Championships in Harbin, China. Kuwait placed 12th and the Philippines, 15th in the tournament. It was the Philippines’ worst finish in a FIBA-Asia tournament since the 1960 inaugurals. The Philippines won the FIBA-Asia title in 1960, 1963, 1967, 1973 and 1986.

In Harbin, the Philippines was coached by Aric del Rosario. Basketball Association of the Philippines secretary-general Graham Lim arranged the team’s entry with Cebuana Lhuillier as sponsor.