Ni: Marivic Awitan

SASAMPA ang Pilipinas ang ikalawang yugto ‘window stage’ ng 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers na may malinis na 2-0 marka matapos malusutan ng Gilas Pilipinas ang Chinese-Taipei , 90-83, Lunes ng gabi sa Araneta Coliseum.

Gilas Pilipinas' Calvin Abueva drives against Chinese Taipei's Yu-An Chiang during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers at Smart Aranet Coliseum, November 27,  2017 (Rio Leonelle Deluvio)
Gilas Pilipinas' Calvin Abueva drives against Chinese Taipei's Yu-An Chiang during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers at Smart Aranet Coliseum, November 27, 2017 (Rio Leonelle Deluvio)

Naunang tinalo ng Gilas ang koponan ng Japan, 77-71 noong Biyernes ng gabi sa Tokyo.

Classic movie ‘Ipaglaban Mo!’, ipinalabas ng CCP bilang kampanya vs VAWC

“Less than satisfactory but we are happy to get the W’s. Kaya lang we could have played much better,” pahayag ni national coach Chot Reyes.

Pagkaraang magtala ng 20 puntos kontra Japan, muling tumapos na topscorer sa ikalawang laro si Jayson Castro sa ipinoste nitong 20-puntos at tig-4 na assists at rebounds.

Umiskor naman ng 11-puntos, lahat sa fourth period si Matthew Wright upang pangunahan ang pag-agwat ng Gilas na angat lamang ng isa sa pagtatapos ng third period.

Ngunit, gaya ng inaasahan, hindi ganun kadaling sumuko ang Taiwanese na nagsagawa ng makailang ulit na run upang muling makadikit.

Nakuha ni Kiefer Ravena ang panglima at uling foul ng naturalized player ng Taiwan na si Quincy Davis kasabay ng pag-angat ng lamang ng Gilas sa sampung puntos, 86-76. Hindi na ulit nakapag rally pa ang mga Taiwanese.

Malaki rin ang papel na ginampanan ni June Mar Fajardo sa panalo sa itinala niyang 17 puntos at along rebounds.

“June Mar saved us. We had that terrible start. Good thing we have the luxury of bringing June Mar off the bench,” sambit ni Reyes.

Iskor:

Philippines (90) – Castro 20, Fajardo 17, Wright 11, Pogoy 11, Ravena 9, Abueva 8, Blatche 6, Norwood 5, Aguilar 3

Chinese-Taipei (83) – Davis 20, Chou Y. 17, Huang 16, Liu 7, Tsai 6, Lee 6, Chou P.C. 4, Chou P.H. 3, Chen 2, Chiang 2, Hu 0, Lu 0

Quarterscores: 18-23; 44-42; 65-64; 90-83