A hard-working and much composed Gilas team ousted the sloppy Chinese Taipei team in their own home court and improved to a 1-1 record in 2017 William Jones Cup on Sunday evening in Taipei Heping Gymnaisum, Taiwan.
Early in the first quarter, Kiefer Ravena was the first one to showcase his offensive dexterity and play-making ability through tough lay-up from a crossover, a dish for Roger Pogoy’s top of the key three point shot and a wonderful alley-oop assist for Michael Myers’s throw down, which gave them 7 unanswered points.
But as usual for the home team, it became slightly unfortunate for the Gilas as the Taiwanese team responded with their own scoring prowess and gave Gilas a hard time to escape, 23-22.
Gilas Pilipinas still held their offensive game at the start of second quarter, with the Fil-German Christian Standhardinger’s hard works in the rebounding department, followed by his own backbreaking work inside the paint that kept the Gilas intact.
Three-point shooting were also started to click in the middle of second quarter courtesy of Matthew Wright and Kevin Ferrer, and made the Gilas still grasping the lead, 47-40.
The game seemed to be one-sided in favor of Gilas as they continued to set the pace early in the second half, even though both teams trading blow-by-blow baskets.
Myers finally showed his persistence through his own version of power play inside the paint, combining with Cruz’s and Wright’s booming threes that gave Gilas a widening lead in the middle of third quarter, 59-50.
The tough Taiwanese team, on the other hand, still able to find its way to answer the Gilas’ run and trimmed the lead by showcasing their ranges, halted the Philippine team by an immediate triple in their last possession on the late third quarter, 67-61.
Quincy Davis, meanwhile, led his team with his emphatic throw down but this Chinese Taipei’s last scoring flex made the young guns fire burning as scorching hot Ravena continued to hurt the home team with his shot clock buzzer-beating dagger and fancy dribble-drive to give a safe 82-69 lead in the final three minutes.
Standhardinger also continued to showcase his tenacity and willpower, adding a 17-point, 15-rebound double-double figures on the Gilas’ score sheet and made the team sealed the win, 88-72.
Wright, meanwhile, showed a hot shooting night and finished with 17 points, while Ravena tallied 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
Gilas will next face Chinese Taipei B on Monday, July 17. | Tretch Melarpes – PTV
