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The Angola national team has landed in Manila on Saturday, just nearly a week before the opening of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which the Philippines is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia.
Bruising power forward Bruno Fernando of the Atlanta Hawks leads the Angola side, which will be facing Gilas Pilipinas on Aug. 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the group stage play.
The 11-time FIBA Africa champion landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on early Saturday night, fresh off its pre-World Cup stint in Tokyo where the team went up against host Japan, France and Slovenia.
Outside Fernando, Team Angola's young but hungry roster also has two-time Angolan League season Most Valuable Player Jilson Bango and Euro Cup veteran Silvio De Sousa to help patrol the shaded lane, along with up and coming playmaker Childe Dundao.
Angola has played in a number of pre-World Cup games, that saw the team face Mexico, Portugal and Jordan as well as Venezuela.
Gilas coach Chot Reyes is eyeing to lead the Philippines to a solid showing right in front of the Philippines hometown crowd.
And many basketball fans are hopeful that Gilas could come out with a victory against Angola, which defeated the Philippines, 84-81 in overtime during the 2019 FIBA World Cup edition in Foshan, China.
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Credit belongs to : www.manilatimes.net
