By Jay R. Gotera
MANILA — The young inexperienced Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team played tough against Chinese Taipei for three quarters before collapsing in the final canto, 87-76, late Sunday night for their second straight loss in the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge Cup in Tehran, Iran.
Playing with neither a naturalized player nor any member from the professional Philippine Basketball Association, the former and present collegiate standouts that form the Gilas 5.0 squad could not match the firepower and defensive tenacity of the veteran Taiwanese team.
The Filipino youngsters shot only 37 percent from the field and 13 percent from three-point range and were outrebounded, 57-40.
Despite their struggles, the Gilas boys fought the Taiwanese on even terms for three quarters and trailed by just one point, 67-66, with 6:46 left in the clock before a late run by Chinese Taipei doused the Filipinos’ fighting spirit.
The Taiwanese relied heavily on their long-time naturalized American player Quincy Davis who finished with 19 points and 16 rebounds in a follow-up of their 99-66 victory over India Saturday.
Mac Belo once again led Gilas Pilipinas with 17 points while CJ Perez added 15 markers in under 12 minutes of action. Kevin Ferrer and Mike Tolomia added 11 points apiece.
The Philippines will thus enter the second group stage of the tournament carrying a 0-2 win-loss record.
The Filipinos will face even tougher opponents in the second round of competition, beginning with China Monday, followed by Kazakhstan Tuesday and Jordan Wednesday.
Gilas led by seven points, 24-17, after the first quarter and was still on top, 43-38, at halftime.
Chinese Taipei opened the third with six unanswered points — including a dunk from Davis — to surge ahead. The Filipinos stayed competitive as the third quarter ended with the score knotted at 62-all.
But the Filipinos suffered a huge meltdown in the fourth quarter as the Taiwanese opened up with a 16-3 blast, as they cruised to victory.
In other games Sunday: Japan defeated Thailand, 96-67; Iran walloped Iraq, 94-51; and China beat Kazakhstan, 106-85.
Games Monday: Jordan vs. India; China vs. Philippines; Kazakhstan vs. Chinese Taipei; Iraq vs. Japan; Iran vs. Thailand; and Qatar vs. South Korea.
