Gilas Pilipinas’ Justin Brownlee defends Poland’s Jeremy Sochan throughout a tune-up sport. Photograph from Wojciech Figurski / Polish Basketball Federation
Gilas Pilipinas’ comeback machine light anew on Sunday morning (Manila time) in its third and closing pleasant geared towards the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Event.
The Nationals fell to world No. 15 Poland, 82-80, at Sosnowiec Enviornment, unable to pocket a win in Europe proper earlier than plunging into the all-important OQT in Riga, Latvia, that can ship one group into the Paris Summer season Olympic Video games late subsequent month.
Justin Brownlee was the tip of the Gilas spear as soon as once more, ending with 30 factors. Dwight Ramos chipped in 16 factors and 9 rebounds after delivering simply 4 within the loss towards EuroBasket-bound Turkey two nights in the past.
READ: Ethical wins don’t rely for Gilas Pilipinas in OQT buildup
Trying lifeless within the water with about three minutes left within the closing interval, the Filipinos went on a cutthroat run behind Ramos to drag inside 5, 82-77.
Gilas had 1:43 left to make one thing. However a Chris Newsome freebie and a late CJ Perez basket have been the one performs the Nationals might pull off in that stretch.
June Mar Fajardo added 10 factors, whereas Kai Sotto 8 and 11 boards within the stand that had the Philippines going 1-2 (win-loss) in its preparatory video games for the OQT.
The Philippines seemed sharp and poised for a commendable outing proper off the soar due to a balanced assault from Brownlee, Ramos, Fajardo, and Kai Sotto, even placing collectively a nine-point edge within the opening body.
However second-period miscues that value Gilas a number of attractiveness and despatched the Jeremy Sochan-led Poles to the charity stripe one too many instances proved to be the swing the hosts wanted to create a gulf that the Nationals would fall wanting closing.
READ: Gilas Pilipinas loses to Turkey in tune-up forward of OQT
Michał Sokołowski and Aleksander Balcerowski led the best way for the White and Pink with 21 and 10 factors, respectively. Sochan, who’s plying his commerce within the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs, added eight factors.
The Poles are additionally priming for the opposite OQT that might be held in Valencia, Spain. There, they are going to be battling towards Finland and the Bahamas for an opportunity to tackle the winners from the opposite bracket that includes Lebanon, Angola, and conventional powerhouse Spain.
Gilas’ lone win in its three-game sequence of friendlies got here towards the visiting Taiwan Mustangs final Sunday.
The 11-man Philippine squad will play Latvia after which Georgia in Group A of the Riga OQT that will get going at midnight of July 2 (Manila time).
Each Latvia and Georgia have wrapped up their check video games as effectively. The World No. 6 OQT hosts wound up with a 1-1 card successful towards Egypt after which shedding to Finland. The Georgians, in the meantime, stumbled towards Italy and Cameroon earlier than lastly prevailing towards Egypt.
The Scores:
Poland: Sokołowski 21, Balcerowski 10, Pluta 8, Sochan 8, Ponitka 7, Zyskowski 6, Milicici 5, Dziewa 5, Michalak 5, Nizioł 5, Mazurczak 2, Żołnierewicz 0.
The Philippines: Brownlee 30, Ramos 16, Fajardo 10, Sotto 8, Newsome 6, Aguliar 4, Tamayo 4, Perez 2, Oftana 0, Quiambao 0.
Quarterscores 16-23, 41-38, 58-56, 82-80.
