Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes expressed his concern about facing NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and Dominican Republic in their opening game of the FIBA World Cup. Reyes mentioned that they will need a "perfect game" to beat a team like Dominican Republic. Despite having big men like Kai Sotto, June Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu, and Jamie Malonzo, Reyes acknowledged the defensive challenge that Towns presents. He reminisced about his former player Ranidel de Ocampo, who was known for his defensive skills, and suggested that someone like him could be assigned to guard Towns. De Ocampo, along with Marc Pingris, played a crucial role when Gilas defeated South Korea in the 2013 FIBA Asian Championship. Dominican Republic coach Nestor Garcia anticipates a large number of Filipino fans at the game. He emphasized the importance of his team staying focused amidst the support for Gilas Pilipinas. He also acknowledged the talent of the Filipino players, particularly their shooting skills. Despite being ranked higher than the Philippines, Garcia recognizes that they need to play their best game in order to win against Gilas. The Dominican Republic team boasts All-NBA big man Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as other talented players like Victor Liz and Gelvis Solano. Quinones and Liz expressed confidence in their team's chances and emphasized their depth and talent as key factors for success in the World Cup.