'Walang laban,' Duterte thinks of Gilas vs. Italy, says bet on China instead

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday weighed in on the chances of the Philippines’ men’s basketball team in the 2019 FIBA World Cup slated later this month in China.

In his speech before the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. in Malacañang, Duterte said Gilas Pilipinas will lose to taller players from Italy.

“Ang problema ang unang kalaban natin Italy. Wala. Walang laban. Walang tayo diyan. China na lang tayo magpusta. Wala. Ay sus. Pa-corny ka pa. Wala talaga tayo,” he said.

“We will lose dito sa Italian, ang lalaki kaya niyang mga gagong ‘yan.”

However, Duterte said Gilas may be able to defeat Angola.

“Ang sunod natin Angola. Ah ito, pwede natin ilibing nang buhay,” he said.

Duterte added the Chinese vice president will accompany him to the games.

“Samahan ako ng vice president mismo ng China doon sa basketball. Biro mo? Totoo ‘yan. It’s a break in protocol. Siya mismo ang mag-ano,” he said.

For the opening round, Gilas will take on Italy on August 31, Serbia on September 2 and Angola on September 4.

The Philippines, which is currently 31st in the world rankings, will need to end the group phase in the top two of the pack to advance to the second round of the World Cup.

Duterte will be in China later this month for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, to watch FIBA games and inaugurate a school building which was constructed in honor of his mother Soledad. —JST, GMA News