GILAS Pilipinas will be facing a serious challenge heading to the 2023 FIBA World Cup group stage following the announcement of Italy's final 12.
The Azzurri have yet to lose in five games in their tuneup matches, and are coming off a 98-65 rout of Puerto Rico recently.
Forward Sirmone Fontecchio, who plays for the Utah Jazz, along with veteran Luigi Datome headline Italy's final World Cup roster.
The 27-year-old Fontecchio, who averaged over 21 points and five rebounds for Italy during the European qualifiers, will be leading the Azzuri's bid for a strong podium finish in the World Cup.
On the other hand, the 35-year-old Datome is the only holdover from the Italy five that manhandled the Yeng Guiao-coached Gilas side, 108-62, in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Foshan, China.
This year's World Cup in Manila is expected to be Datome's swan song after an illustrious basketball career that also saw him play for the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics.
The Azzurri are bound for Shenzen, China to join the Solidarity Cup where they will play two more games as part of their buildup for the World Cup.
Italy is bracketed with the Philippines in Group A and will face off with Gilas on August 29 in the final day of group stage play at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gilas coach Chot Reyes knows the group stage won't be a walk in the park and that's one reason why the coaching staff has deliberately played against foreign squads that could somehow simulate their World Cup opponents.
'We made sure that we mimic the kind of competition and in fact even the schedule, we tried to get it as close as possible to what we are going to face in the World Cup,' said Reyes during his recent interview with One Sports' 'The Game.'
Gilas played Senegal and Iran Team B twice in the recent 2023 Heyuan WUS International basketball tournament in Guangdong, China.
The Filipinos split their matches against the Senegalese, while sweeping their two-game match versus the Iranians.
Reyes has pointed out that the games they had versus Senegal easily simulates the game Gilas will have against Angola.
The Philippines plays Angola on August 27 at the Big Dome.
On the other hand, Iran has been playing a European style of play since beginning its rebuilding process.
Both games, Reyes felt, have helped Gilas in its buildup for the World Cup.
With less than two weeks left before the World Cup, Gilas will have three tune up games left starting this Friday against Cote D'Ivoire, ranked 42nd in the world at 8 p.m. on closed-door at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Also known as Ivory Coast, the African squad is bunched in Group G and will play in Jakarta against group mates led by world no. 1 Spain, Brazil (13th ranked) and Iran (ranked 22nd).
The two other tuneup games for Gilas include Montenegro on August 20 before going up against Mexico the following day.
The Philippines will make its World Cup debut on August 25 against the Karl-Anthony Towns-led Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena.