By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE fifth window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers concluded last week with 18 teams already assured of a spot in the 32-team tournament in China in August, leaving only 14 slots needed to be filled in the sixth and final window of the qualifiers in February next year.
In Asia, four of the seven spots up for grabs are already taken.
Already through are New Zealand (9-1) and South Korea (8-2) from Group E in the second round of the qualifiers, and Australia (9-1) in Group F, where the Philippines is bracketed. The three teams join host China in the World Cup.
Lebanon and Jordan are still in contention for final the World Cup spot from Group E heading into the sixth window of qualifiers. Jordan is currently joint third with China in the grouping with a 6-4 record while Jordan is fifth with a 5-5 card. Already eliminated from the running is Syria (2-8).
In Group F, the two remaining spots are still being disputed by Japan, the Philippines and Kazakhstan.
Japan is presently third place in the group with a 6-4 record with the Philippines fourth (5-5) and Kazakhstan fifth (4-6).
As per the breakdown of FIBA, Japan can finish anywhere between second and fourth place. It could secure a spot in the World Cup spot with two wins, but less could suffice depending on the other results of the group. They can also qualify as the best fourth-placed team in Asia.
Japan can finish fourth in two ways. One is if it ends up in a three-way tie with Philippines and Kazakhstan for third, fourth and fifth places, and second is if it directly lands on fourth place. Either way though, it can still qualify as the best fourth-placed team.
The Philippines, which lost its two home-stand matches in the fifth window, can finish anywhere between third and fifth. It could notch a spot in the World Cup with as little as one win as it holds a tiebreaker against Japan, but even if it wins both games in the sixth window, both away matches against Kazakhstan and already-eliminated Qatar (2-8), it will have to depend on other results.
Alternatively, FIBA said, the Philippines could qualify as the best fourth-placed team in Asia as long as it avoids losing to Kazakhstan by more than 48 points or losing twice in the final window, as it would finish fifth. It would also finish fifth if Kazakhstan wins both games and Japan wins at least once.
Kazakhstan, meanwhile, would secure a spot in the World Cup if it beats Australia by any margin and the Philippines by at least 48 points, Japan loses both games and the Philippines beats Qatar. Alternatively, it could qualify as the best fourth-placed team in Asia.
The Kazakhs can finish fourth if the case above holds, except Kazakhstan beats the Philippines by between 17 and 47 points, or it winning both their games and Japan winning one or the Philippines losing both games.
Losing both their home matches in the fifth window, Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao said they made things harder for them to make it to the World Cup in China next year.
“We’re disappointed not just about the match but for the whole window,” said Mr. Guiao after they finished their fifth window campaign with a 78-70 loss to second-running Iran (7-3).
But despite their road to the World Cup becoming narrower, Mr. Guiao is not losing hope of still getting the job done.
“I still feel this is a good team. Our chances are slimmer now going to the World Cup but I still feel we can do it,” Mr. Guiao said.
OTHER QUALIFIERS
In other qualifiers, Tunisia (10-2) and Angola (9-3) from Group E and Nigeria (9-0) from Group F are already qualified from FIBA Africa.
Still vying for the remaining two spots are Cameroon (7-5) from Group E and Senegal (7-5), Central African Republic (4-5) and Cote d’Ivoire (4-5).
In the African Qualifiers, the top two teams in the two groupings advance to the tournament proper with the best third-placed team advancing.
In FIBA Europe, seven teams are already through, namely, Spain (8-2) and Turkey (7-3) in Group I, Lithuania (9-1) in Group J, France (9-1) and Czech Republic (7-3) in Group K, and Greece (9-1) and Germany (9-1) in Group L.
Still in contention for the five remaining spots are Montenegro (6-4), Latvia (6-4) and Ukraine (5-5) in Group I, Italy (7-3), Poland (6-4), Hungary (5-5) and Croatia (4-6) in Group J, Russia (6-4) and Finland (5-5) in Group K, Serbia (6-4), Georgia (5-5) and Israel (4-6) in Group L.
In the Europe Qualifiers, the top three teams in each of the four groupings advance to the World Cup.
Finally in FIBA Americas, four of the seven spots are already filled led by Argentina (9-1) and the United States (8-2) in Group E and Venezuela (9-1) and Canada (8-2) in Group F.
Hoping to join them are Uruguay (6-4) and Puerto Rico (6-4) in Group E and Brazil (7-3) and Dominican Republic (6-4) in Group F.
In the qualifiers in the Americas, the top three teams in each of the two groupings advance to the World Cup with the best fourth-placed team also advancing.

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