Fiba Asia Cup qualifying: Philippines a daunting prospect for underprepared Hong Kong
- Inexperienced squad face tough task against powerful Philippines side before flying to New Zealand for another stiff test
- Hong Kong short of personnel and training sessions after injuries, retirements, players opting out and lack of adequate medical insurance
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A hugely inexperienced Hong Kong squad face the mammoth task of trying to limit the damage in their Fiba Asia Cup qualifier against the Philippines on Thursday.
And sources told the Post that those who did make the squad had just four training sessions together before their qualifying campaign, which also includes a game in New Zealand this weekend.
Senior players Duncan Reid and Leung Shiu-wah will have their work cut out leading a side who include just four of the team that played in last year’s Asian Games.
Officials had stated that any players wishing to don the city’s jersey in the qualifiers must also make themselves available for minor Hong Kong team duties late last year. That ruled out three of the eight missing players.
Three others were injured, while Hong Kong Eastern guard Stephen Chan Siu-wing, 31, decided his days with the national team were up, and Tycoon guard Lee Ki also retired from playing for the team and took an assistant coach role.
“Unfortunately, this is a rather inexperienced squad,” Lee said. “Of the eight who didn’t make the Asiad team, only one has played any Fiba-level regular matches previously.
“Needless to say, the visitors are strong as ever, their players are tall, athletic and powerful, so it’s going to be a tough match.”
The Philippines finished 24th among 32 teams at the Fiba World Cup last September, and are bringing eight members of that team to Hong Kong for the encounter at a sold-out Tsuen Wan Sports Centre.
Reid, one of the four players retained from the Asian Games, admitted it was a tough task to face the Philippines then travel to take on New Zealand in their own backyard three days later.
“Let alone the difference in experience, they have eight players of 2 metres or above, so you can imagine our pressure,” said the 34-year-old, who is the hosts’ only player over that height.
“It is what it is in terms of our lack of experience. Our younger players will have to step up one way or another going forward, so these two games are going to be a process.”
Leung was at first overlooked after not featuring in any of the requisite minor tournaments, but the Hong Kong Bulls forward was drafted back in after Tycoon guard Tsai Choi-kwan injured a knee during Hong Kong’s A1 Division playoffs.
The 29-year-old said he was told by the coaching staff what to expect on Thursday.
“The Philippines will be coming right at us,” he said. “So we’ll have to play our usual run-and-gun game to try to score some points.”
The Hong Kong squad, whose qualifying group B opponents also include Chinese Taipei, will depart for Auckland on Friday for Sunday’s game.
