By Justin Blancaflor
Photo Courtesy of interaksyon.com Gilas-Pilipinas national basketball team overcame a bad shooting night and repulsed Saudi Arabia, 78-66, at the start of its FIBA-Asia Championship quest Thursday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The game didn't start out good for Gilas-Pilipinas, but in the end, they nailed it done.
Gilas started out the game hot with an 8-0 spurt, until Almuwallad got KSA on the board with a three-pointer.
The game didn't start out good for Gilas-Pilipinas, but in the end, they nailed it done.
Gilas started out the game hot with an 8-0 spurt, until Almuwallad got KSA on the board with a three-pointer.
Aside from throwing bricks from the perimeter, the Filipinos also did not take care of the ball very well, allowing the Saudis into the game several times, including at one point in the stretch when they came within seven points
Both teams exchanged baskets, but Gilas took a 16-14 edge after the first quarter.Midway in the second with the score knotted at 22-all, Gilas amassed an 11-1 run, capped by a drive from Tenorio, to take a 33-24 lead. The Saudis, however, inched closer right before the end of the first half on a pair of free throws from Almuwallad.
Team Philippines, holding a 57-46 advantage entering the last period, extended their lead to 16 points, 66-50, midway in the quarter on baskets from Marc Pingris and Gary David.
Saudi Arabia, however, staged a 9-0 run on three straight shots from downtown to cut the deficit to seven points.
Fajardo and Douthit would both answer on the other end to make the count 70-59, with less than three minutes remaining.
The Saudi nationals pulled closer, 70-62, with 2:00 left but Norwood converted on a layup and Fonacier drained a three to push the Philippines’ lead to 13 points, enough to seal the win.
Tenorio and Fonacier each scored 12 points for the Philippine team, while naturalized player Douthit added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Aymam Almuwallad led Saudi Arabia with 18 markers.
In the third frame, Philippines held a nine-point lead with less than four minutes left, but the Saudi nationals came up with a mini-run to pull within three, 46-43.
Tenorio nailed a trey to stop the bleeding and Fonacier cashed in on two charities to push the Philippines’ lead back up to eight, 51-43.
After a few possessions, two straight shots from Pingris and a layup from Fonacier gave Gilas a 57-46 cushion to end the third period.
Gilas experienced a hard time against a team that was supposed to be an easy opponent for the nationals but the Saudi’s have put on their offensive weapons at the early start of the game. The game ended with the Philippines winning at 78-66.
Both teams exchanged baskets, but Gilas took a 16-14 edge after the first quarter.Midway in the second with the score knotted at 22-all, Gilas amassed an 11-1 run, capped by a drive from Tenorio, to take a 33-24 lead. The Saudis, however, inched closer right before the end of the first half on a pair of free throws from Almuwallad.
Team Philippines, holding a 57-46 advantage entering the last period, extended their lead to 16 points, 66-50, midway in the quarter on baskets from Marc Pingris and Gary David.
Saudi Arabia, however, staged a 9-0 run on three straight shots from downtown to cut the deficit to seven points.
Fajardo and Douthit would both answer on the other end to make the count 70-59, with less than three minutes remaining.
The Saudi nationals pulled closer, 70-62, with 2:00 left but Norwood converted on a layup and Fonacier drained a three to push the Philippines’ lead to 13 points, enough to seal the win.
Tenorio and Fonacier each scored 12 points for the Philippine team, while naturalized player Douthit added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Aymam Almuwallad led Saudi Arabia with 18 markers.
In the third frame, Philippines held a nine-point lead with less than four minutes left, but the Saudi nationals came up with a mini-run to pull within three, 46-43.
Tenorio nailed a trey to stop the bleeding and Fonacier cashed in on two charities to push the Philippines’ lead back up to eight, 51-43.
After a few possessions, two straight shots from Pingris and a layup from Fonacier gave Gilas a 57-46 cushion to end the third period.
Gilas experienced a hard time against a team that was supposed to be an easy opponent for the nationals but the Saudi’s have put on their offensive weapons at the early start of the game. The game ended with the Philippines winning at 78-66.
#
