Sports

Gilas keeps medal hopes alive

July 23, 2017

JAY R. GOTERA

MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas unleashed its full offensive might to handily defeat India 101-70 Saturday in the 2017 Jones Cup at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium.

In their most explosive showing yet in the 10-nation tournament, the Filipinos converted 17 of 36 three-point shots for a high 47 percent clip as Gilas broke the century mark for the first time.

The win kept alive the Philippines’ hopes of bagging the bronze medal depending on the results of Sunday’s culminating games, specifically the Philippines vs. Iran and Chinese Taipei-A vs. South Korea matches.

Bench players Von Pessumal and Almond Vosotros joined Matthew Wright in raining three-pointers, tearing apart India’s zone defense.

The Philippines outscored India, 27-7, in the second quarter to take a 46-24 lead. Wright nailed a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc, finishing with a team-high 19 points in just 14 minutes. Pessumal and Vosotros scored 14 points apiece, hitting four three-pointers each.

It was the first time in the tournament that coach Chot Reyes fielded Vosotros, and the young Gilas cadet guard responded by scoring 11 straight points in one stretch in the fourth quarter. His flurry of baskets allowed Gilas to lead by as many as 37 points, 94-57, with 4:20 minutes left.

Christian Standhardinger added 10 markers while Carl Bryan Cruz had 9.

Other seldom used Gilas cadets also saw action with Ed Daquiaog and Mike Tolomia chipping in eight points apiece, allowing Gilas’ top gunners Mike Myers, Kiefer Ravena and Standhardinger to rest longer on the bench.

Amjyot Singh Gill led India (0-8) with 22 points, 16 of them in the first quarter that prevented Gilas from pulling away.

Other results: Canada def. Japan, 108-60; Lithuania def. Chinese Taipei-B, 85-73; South Korea def. Iraq, 86-63.

Games Sunday: Lithuania (7-1) vs. Iraq (4-4); Canada (7-1) vs. Chinese Taipei-B (2-6); India (0-8) vs. Japan (1-7); Philippines (5-3) vs. Iran (3-4); Chinese Taipei-A (4-3) vs. South Korea (6-2).


July 23, 2017
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