FIBA Asia 2015 Matchup Preview: The battle for GOLD begins, as Gilas Pilipinas Basketball goes to war against China NT in the Finals today October 3, in Changsha China FIBA Asia 2015. Let us check the basketball tactics, offensive and defensive sets and players that will rival the Filipinos in today’s court skirmish.

The FIBA Asia 2015 Finals countdown begins as we are a couple of hours before the tip-off of the highly anticipated court battle between Gilas Pilipinas Basketball and China Team Dragon.

Ranked at number 14 in FIBA World rankings, the Chinese made 8 appearances in the Olympic Games, 8 in the FIBA Worlds and 21 in the FIBA Asia Championship. China copped 15 Gold medals in the history of FIBA Asia, while the Filipinos come-in at 2nd with 5 Golds. China never won a medal in FIBA Worlds, while RP bagged Bronze in 1954. It was in 2011 when China last tasted the FIBA Asian Gold, and after dethroning defending champion Iran, they expect nothing but first place as they clash heads with a determined Filipino Five.

China is in a renaissance of sorts as they are fielding a young team with a mix of veteran dribblers. They ditched their former Greek mentor for new coach Gong Luming. The Chinese national basketball program was overhauled after they miserably failed in FIBA Asia 2013 where they were humiliated and went home without a medal.

NBA veteran Yi Jianlian is again spearheading Team China, with mainstays Wang Zhelin, Liu Wei and Zhou Peng. Their prime backcourt general is Guo Ailun. And their main threepoint gunner is the burly Li Gen. To add terror to their formiddable squad, they have seven footers shotblocker Zhou Qi and Li Muhao.

China has the tallest ceiling in FIBA Asia right now, fielding in four 7 footers and five wingmen with heights of 6’5 to 6’9. Their backcourt is not only athletic, but also relatively tall at 6’1 to 6’3.

China employs a deadly type of motion dribble drive kick-out offense that takes advantage of Yi Jianlian spreading the floor either at five or four position. Li Gen, Zai Xiaochuan and Zhou Peng are precise snipers who poses a fatal threat from the wings and perimeter to open the lanes for China. Backcourt captain Guo Ailun will likely attack and drive to the lane as Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin enforces the Chinese mastery of the paint.

Yi Jianlian will be the first big man to challenge Andray Blatche’s defense and footwork. Yi will most certainly shoot the long bombs and drive to the basket to bait Blatche to foul woes. The post would also be a busy territory as Wang Zhelin and Zhou Qi may try to post-up and battle for tip-ins and put-backs.

China is leading the tournament in blocks with 4.9 while RP swats the ball at 3.2 BPG. China is the more accurate team in the trey territory with 39.7% threepoints per game compared to the Filipinos 36.2%. The same story goes in fieldgoals with China at 54.7% over RP Five’s 49.7% clip. Surprisingly, Philippines leads in caroms due to gang rebounding and sports a better RPG with 46.9 compared to China’s 41.5. Also, RP leads in steals with 9.1 to China’s 6.5. However, Team Dragon negates this advantage with better fastbreak points at 9.2 to Gilas’ 8.5

The Finals war will not only be a battle of stats and accuracy. Philippines must disrupt the Chinese offensive juggernaut by using a deadly trapping and pressure defense opposite China’s backcourt. Jayson Castro and Terrence ROmeo must make Guo Ailun bleed not only for points, but halt his ability to distribute the ball. This way, the Chinese advantage in the paint will be negated. Guo would most certainly attack and drive, so our guards must not only be defensively intelligent, they must also conserve their fouls.

Blatche should at all cost avoid early foul troubles, as he is the lone bright spot in the paint presently. He can shoot, slash and post-up the Chinese big men, and bring them to foul troubles. Blatche is also an excellent passer off the double team. He must recognize the players from the wings and the driving lane who will be free for the easy basket.

Calvin Abueva, Marc Pingris and Gabe Norwood should be relentless, unforgiving, and precise in defense. Gilas must make the game scrappy for China as all cost. Bring them to early penalty and negate their ability to defend by making them avoid the fouls.

Finally, Dondon Hontiveros, Ranidel De Ocampo and Andray Blatche must at all cost convert their threepoint bombs. If China is thinly spread out in the wings, Romeo and Castro will have a field day attacking and terrorizing the lanes to the basket.

The crowd cheers and the referree calls will be on the side of China come gametime. RP must register a sizeable lead to steer clear of homecooking calls and bum officiating. Filipinos must also be weary of China’s intimidation and rough housing tactics. Also, many Chinese players are acting divas with player Ding and Zhai leading in flopping department.

All-out hustle, accurate shooting, foul conservation, gang rebounding, unrelenting slashing and feisty reactive defense will be the key factors for Pilipinas to upset gargantuan China.

The conquest for Gold ends in a few hours, and Gilas Pilipinas must not only bring its “A” game today to come out victorious against monstrous China. They must do the improbable, and be deadly accurate doing it.