MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas went down but not without a fight, 86-79, in a highly physical encounter against FIBA America’s Final Four team Dominican Republic Monday night (Tuesday morning Manila time) at the Palacio Multiusos de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Spain.
Pumped up by another jampacked Pinoy crowd, Gilas Pilipinas engaged Dominican Republic in tooth-and-nail fight marred by a near scuffle in the first half.
Gilas did not back down from the challenge and even took a brief one-point lead, 68-67, on Jeff Chan’s triple. But Dominican Republic took it back quickly on Houston Rockets forward Francisco Garcia’s basket inside the paint.
The Filipinos last threatened seriously at the 1:20 mark of the fourth quarter after Gabe Norwood and LA Tenorio hit three triples in a furious exchange with the Dominican Republic to come within two, 78-80. It proved to be the closest they could get as the FIBA America’s fourth placer went on 6-1 closing run to book the win.
Despite the loss, it was a solid game by the Phl team that went 1-2 in their last three games against FIBA Africa’s top 2 teams and Dominican Republic after being shutout in a pocket tournament in Antibes, France.
Senegal, the last opponent of Gilas in the first round of the FIBA World Cup, struggled mightily against Dominican Republic in a 47-83 loss the other day.
“We’re getting better. Finally, after just one month of preparation, the system and defense is starting to fall into place at the level where we need it to be. Hopefully, it would give us enough of a fighting chance,” Gilas assistant coach Josh Reyes posted on his Instragram account shortly after the loss.
Blatche 16, Norwood 17, Tenorio 10 pic.twitter.com/4wGW5JiUr4
— Sergio García-Ronrás (@s9rgio) August 25, 2014 Norwood has his biggest game offensively for Gilas leading the team with 17 points on 4-of-6 triples spiked by four rebounds and same number of assists. Andray Blatche finished with 16 points and eight rebounds while LA Tenorio added 10 that went with five boards and four assists.
Jayson Castro again sat out and is hoping to get his Achilles healed just in time for the FIBA World Cup opening on Saturday.
June Mar Fajardo backed up Blatche with another solid game finishing with six points and five rebounds in 12 minutes. Jeff Chan had eight while Paul Lee and Gary David each had seven points.
Five Dominican Republic players hit in double figures led by James Feldeine’s 15 points. Garcia only wound up with 10 as he struggled with a 3-of-9 shooting.
It was tight all throughout with the opening quarter ending at 21-all deadlock before Dominican Republic took the lead in the next two quarters, 48-44 at the half, and 57-54, heading into the final period.
A scuffle almost broke out when Ranidel de Ocampo hit Fedeleine with a hard foul midway through the second quarter but cooler heads intervened.
Overall, Gilas wound up with a 4-7 win-loss record in their series of tuneup games marked by big a big win against FIBA Africa's runner up team Egypt and close decisions to Angola, France and Dominican Republic.
The Phl national team will travel to Seville Wednesday and settle down there three days ahead of its opening game against Croatia.