Off-target Pinoys bow to tall Greeks

SEVILLE, Spain – Gilas Pilipinas stayed right behind Greece for almost the whole battle but just couldn’t make a run big enough to rattle the world fifth-ranked team, and went down to a 70-82 defeat in Day Two of the 2014 FIBA World Cup at Centro Deportivo San Pablo here Sunday night (early Monday morning in Manila).

Andray Blatche, limping with a sore right knee and the Nationals shooting merely 35 percent from the floor, made it easier for the towering Greeks to dominate the match, leading from start to finish in nailing down their second straight win in Group B competition.

Croatia, barely escaping with an 81-78 win in overtime over Gilas Pilipinas Saturday, clipped Argentina, 90-85, while Senegal pounded on the loss of Carlos Arroyo and Angel Vassallo to injuries in drubbing Puerto Rico, 82-75, for the Senegalese’ first win in world competition in 16 years.

In a decent stand, the Filipinos hung around nearly throughout even after coach Chot Reyes finally sat out the injury-stricken Blatche with 1:38 left in the match marred by a slight commotion after the buzzer.

There was an exchange of heated words and some pushing as Kostas Kaimakoglou, with the outcome a foregone conclusion, drained a three-pointer with the clock winding down to the finish.

With the proverbial cooler heads prevailing, the two teams got to their respective endgame huddle at midcourt cheered on by their rabid fans.

“I’m crushed by the loss but happy with the effort of my players,” said the Gilas coach.

“If you told me at the start of the toturnament that we could stay with the Greek squad for three quarters and a half, I’d be glad to accept that,” he also said.

Gilas’ game plan to neutralize Greek gunners Kostas Papanikolaou, Giannis Bourousis and Kostas Vasileiadis worked somehow but the Nationals drew severe beating from forward Georgios Printezis who top scored with 25 points.

“We knew it’s gonna be a very tough match against the No. 5 team in the world, but we wanted to find a way to compete. We succeeded on our defensive game plan on their shooters but, in the process, Printezis got 25 points,” said Reyes.

“It’s a choice we had to make. And credit the Greek squad, the players and the coach for putting a good counter to our game plan. Printezis got 25 points, and that’s the big, big difference in the ball game,” Reyes added.

Scouted and handicapped by his injured knee, Blatche struggled with a 6-of-18 clip to finish with 21 points on top of 14 rebounds, three steals and one assist against three turnovers and two fouls.

Defended well by the Greeks’ long arms, the Gilas shooters, meanwhile, made only six of 22 three-point attempts.

“More than Andray, we have to have a complete game. Kaya lang hindi magkasabay-sabay. Jeff (Chan) was hot (Saturday) but Ranidel (de Ocampo) and Paul (Lee) were missing. This time, Ranidel knocked in one but Jeff and Paul were not there,” said Reyes.

“We’re really missing Ranidel. But to be fair, he’s scouted. Our opponents know him. He’s not being left open. He’s not getting looks,” Reyes added.

Nonetheless, the Nationals really stayed in the battle, chopping down what was once a 17-point spread to eight, 68-76, on the attack by Lee, LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar in the home stretch.