Natalo man sa mala-higante at malalakas na manlalaro ng Serbia, 83-76, sa kanilangFIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament sa Belgrade, binigyang-pugay pa rin ni Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin ang kanyang mga batang player dahil sa ipinakitang lakas ng loob laban sa naturang host team.
Mula sa 16 puntos na pagkaiwan, nakuha pa ng Pilipinas ang kalamangan, 74-73 sa nalalabing 3:32 tikada ng laro kasunod ng layup ni RJ Abarrientos, gayunman, sunud-sunod na mintis na ang mga tira ninaAnge Kouame, Justine Baltazar, at SJ Belangel.
"We had chances late. We missed good open looks. I think Ange missed a couple, SJ missed one, and Justine Baltazar missed one as well, and they were really good looks. They would have put Serbia under even more pressure than they were under late in the game," ayon kay Baldwin.
Kaagad namang sinamantala ni Serbian Boban Marjanovic ang pagkakataon na nakagawa ng walo sa kanyang 10 puntos hanggang sa matapos ang laro, bitbit ng host team ang panalo.
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"Sometimes, particularly with a young team and a developing team, the occasion, it can be a bit bigger than we are. But that's what the learning process is all about.I was very proud of the effort today. I wanted to play better than we played and I know that we can play better. And we will play better, but certainly the flow of the game was very competitive and we put in a great effort," dagdag pa nito.
Rommel Tabbad at Marivic Awitan
