MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas gave the heavily favored Australian Boomers their toughest fight and biggest scare yet in the 2019 Fiba Cup Asian qualifiers before yielding to the world’s 10th biggest basketball power, 68-84, Thursday in Melbourne.

The Philippines thus absorbed their first loss after victories against Japan and Chinese-Taipei in the first window of the qualifiers. The Filipinos will again play against Japan in a home game Sunday.

Despite missing key players to injuries, the 31st ranked Filipinos fought the tougher, bigger, and higher rated Australians on even terms in the first half and even took a five-point lead, 26-21, in the first quarter to the delight of a large group of Filipino fans who made the Margaret Court Arena looked like the Filipinos’ home court with their loud cheers.

After falling behind in their own homecourt following gutsy plays by the Gilas boys, an apparently alarmed Australian coach Andrej Lemanis was forced to call a timeout. The Boomers then started hitting their three-pointers and finding loopholes in the Gilas defense to regain the lead. But the Filipinos refused to be intimidated, keeping within striking distance as they trailed, 32-37, at the end of the first half.

Australia, however, stepped on the gas in the second half, taking advantage of the fast-tiring Filipinos to pull away before cruising to victory.

June Mar Fajardo top-scored for Gilas with 15 points and two rebounds. Matthew Wright added nine points, Roger Pogoy and Andray Blatche finished with eight points apiece, Gabe Norwood had seven while the backcourt duo of Kevin Alas and Kiefer Ravena chipped in six markers each. Blatche also grabbed a team-high eight boards for Gilas.

The Filipinos could have fared better had they been more accurate on the charity stripe and on their three-point shooting. Gilas shot a woeful 7-of-19 free throws and just 5-of-19 from beyond the three-point arc.

Gilas played minus their top playmakers and scorers Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, and Jio Jalalon, who were sidelined by injuries.

Guard Cameron Gliddon led the Boomers with 16 points, including four three-pointers all scored in the third quarter when Australia outscored Gilas, 26-17.

AJ Brandt added13 points, Kevin Lisch contributed 12 while Mitch Creek had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Boomers who outrebounded Gilas, 50-30, and had more assists, 16-8.

PBA games Friday: San Miguel Beer (7-2) vs. Kia Picanto (1-9) and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (5-3) vs. Alaska Aces (6-4).