TIANJIN, China – For Powerade-Team Pilipinas coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said Monday reaching the quarterfinal stage of the FIBA-Asia championship is doable.

“The next three games, we need to win at least two, I think, to make it outright (to the quarters),” Guiao said. “And to prevent the scenario where we might face China as a last placer, going into the quarterfinals.”

“I think that’s doable against Iran, Kuwait and Chinese Taipei, I think two wins is doable. If we can win three, that’s even better,” Guiao added.

Bracketed in the so-called ‘Group of Hope’ Group A, the Philippines moved to the second round of this tournament with a carry over win-loss record of 1-1 behind South Korea’s 2-0 and ahead of Japan 0-2.

The top three teams in Group A plays the best three finishers in Group B that includes defending champion Iran (2-0), Chinese Taipei (1-1), and Kuwait (0-2).

The RP Team was playing Chinese Taipei as of presstime at the Tianjin Gymnasium.

The second round qualifiers from Group C-D are host China (2-0), Jordan (2-0), Lebanon (1-1), Qatar (1-1), Kazakhstan (0-2), and United Arab Emirates (0-2).

Already eliminated and vying for rankings were Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, India, and Indonesia.

The Nationals will next face the Iranians at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, before capping their second round campaign with a 2 p.m. encounter on Wednesday opposite the Kuwaitis both at the same venue.

Team Pilipinas won its first two games in the opening round, beating Sri Lanka (115-31) and Japan (78-69), but lost to the Koreans (56-69).

However, Guiao remains optimistic after a rest day Sunday, using the break to sharpen the Nationals’ outside shooting.

He said his players are adjusting well to the calls.

“It’s only now we’re getting used to the calls, to the situation,” Guiao said. “But I think the key thing is, if we’re able to sustain our defense, I’m expecting our shooters are going to better their percentages, if we do that I think we’ll be okay.”

“Our team is different from the one that played the Jones Cup. Marami na tayong adjustments, marami na tayong natutunan. So we are expecting that we have gotten better that last two weeks,” Guiao added.

Guiao and his team are aiming to finish at the top four of the AB bracket to advance to the quarterfinals where teams will clash against the top four squads grouped in CD in a crossover knockout stage.

If they can make it to the quarters that will surpass the ninth place finish of the national team handled by coach Chot Reyes in the previous FIBA-Asia in Japan, which was then the qualifying to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The top three countries in this year’s FIBA-Asia will earn slots in next year’s World Championship in Turkey.