source: gmanews.tv
Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad and Duhok of Iraq completes the final cast in the 2011 FIBA-Asia Champions Cup on May 28 to June 5 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Al Ittihad will take the place of Japan, which decided to withdraw from the tournament after they are still recovering from a devastating earthquake that hit the country last month. Duhok, meanwhile, is the Middle East representative.
Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad and Duhok of Iraq completes the final cast in the 2011 FIBA-Asia Champions Cup on May 28 to June 5 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Al Ittihad will take the place of Japan, which decided to withdraw from the tournament after they are still recovering from a devastating earthquake that hit the country last month. Duhok, meanwhile, is the Middle East representative.
Korea also turned down FIBA-Asia's invitation to participate in the tournament.
Al Ittihad and Duhok will join Pilipinas-Smart Gilas, ASU of Jordan and KL Dragons of Malaysia in a much-lighter Group A.
With the composition of Group A now complete, Gilas coach Rajko Toroman is confident that the Nationals can take one of the top two spots.
"I expect our team to be either first or second in the group because Jordan also has national players in their line-up," said Toroman.
Group B, meanwhile, will have the strong teams in Al Riyadi Beirut of Lebanon, Al Rayyan of Qatar, Al Shabab of United Arab Emirates, Mahram of Iran and Al Jalaa of Syria.
Gilas defeated Duhok in last year's FIBA-Asia Champions Cup to earn a quarterfinals berth in the tournament.
Toroman said that Al Ittihad's coach is also a Serbian.
"He is a Serbian guy and he was one of my former assistant coach so we will arrange a tune-up game before the competition," Toroman said. - Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News
Preliminary Round Groupings
Group A
ASU (JOR)
KL Dragons (MAS)
Al Ittihad (KSA)
Duhok (IRQ)
Smart Gilas (PHI)
Group B
Al Riyadi Beirut (LIB)
Al Rayyan (QAT)
Al Shabab (UAE)
Mahram (IRI)
Syria (Al Jalaa)
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Announcement: To all Filipino Basketball Fans, we are inviting Male and Female Volunteers for the coming FIBA-Asia Champions Cup to be held at the the PhilSports Multi-Purpose Arena (formerly ULTRA) on May 28 to June 5, 2011. Those who can communicate verbally in Arabic is very much welcomed. We do appreciate your help, lets make this event a success. Just come on May 12, 2011 (Thursday) at 1PM at the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Office which is located in the Philsports Bldg A inside the DepEd Complex/Philsport Complex, Meralco Ave., Pasig City. Please bring your 2x2 ID Picture, pen and paper. Tel#706-2970.
