by rick olivares
Chinese Taipei zoomed to the top of Group A of the
FIBA Asia Championships following a 90-67 demolition of Saudi Arabia. With the
Philippines as of press time last night playing Jordan, head coach Hsu Chin Che
downplayed the Saturday match up with the home team.
Hsu dodged questions about the Philippines not being
invited to defend its William Jones Cup crown as well as any implications over
the game due to the still unresolved shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman at that
the hands of the Philippine Navy last May.
“Sports is sports,” pronounced Hsu outside his team dugout at the Mall
of Asia Arena. “We didn’t come to discuss politics but to play basketball.”
American-Taiwanese forward Douglas Creighton likewise
mimicked his coach’s thoughts. “I’m sure it’s in the thoughts of some people
but not for maybe and maybe some of my teammates. You have to focus on the game
and nothing else.”
“We want to make the final four,” added Hsu. “We want
to win every game. Not only the Philippines.”
Despite tensions between the two countries, Chinese
Taipei journalists covering the biennial basketball tournament say that the
island nation badly wants to win the match up. “It will mean a lot to us,”
divulged the female reporter who asked to remain anonymous.
The last two times these countries met, in the 2011
FIBA Asia and the 2012 Jones Cup, the Philippines came away winners.
“This will be a very good match up,” said Philippines
assistant coach Josh Reyes. “In our last game (during the 2012 Jones Cup), they
were leading almost the whole way until we caught up. They had the advantage of
playing at home. Now we are on Philippine soil.”
Hsu, however, had good words for the local fans. “The
Filipino fans are nice. No problems at all. Maybe when we play it will be
different.”
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| With American-Taiwanese Douglas Creighton outside the media centre. |
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Additional reading My thoughts on the Philippines game vs Saudi Arabia
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