Gilas five falls to South Korea
Games Today (Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City) 1 p.m. – Philippines vs Russia 3 p.m. – Iran vs New Zealand 5 p.m. – USA vs South Korea 7 p.m. – Taiwan-B vs Taiwan-A
Gilas Pilipinas was given a dose of reality check by fierce rival South Korea last night and absorbed an 82-70 loss in the 37th William Jones Cup at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City.
Despite another impressive showing by Terrence Romeo, the Nationals suffered a six-minute scoring drought in the fourth quarter while getting outrebounded by the taller Korean side for their first loss in the tournament.
Romeo had a game-high 23 points but failed to help Gilas duplicate Sunday’s 77-69 victory over Taiwan-A.
Gilas Coach Tab Baldwin, who warned the team during the pregame not to get carried away by its impressive showing against the host nation the other day, would certainly look back at the lackluster showing in the payoff period.
The scoring drought allowed South Korea to go on an 11-0 run, turning a 58-56 deficit with nine minutes left in the fourth into a 69-58 lead.
Not even a late charge by Romeo and the energetic Calvin Abueva, whose two free throws cut Korea’s lead to 76-70 with 1:20 left, could prevent Korea from barging into the win column after losses to reigning FIBA Asia champion Iran and Russia’s Spartak Primorye.
Six-foot-nine southpaw Seung Hyun Lee put an icing on the cake with a three-pointer to make it 7970.
Lee and the rest of the Koreans capitalized on the absence of Gilas’ naturalized player Andray Blatche, dominating the glass, 48-38. They also had 14 offensive boards, six more than the smaller Filipino frontline of Asi Taulava, Marc Pingris, Abueva and Moala Tautuaa.
Gilas could endure the same dilemma today when it faces the Spartak team that won its first three matches.
Spartak rallied from a doubledigit deficit to beat New Zealand’s Wellington Saints, 98-94.
Lee impressed everyone with his outside jumpers and finished with 19 points for the Koreans.
Tae-young Moon, the KoreanAmerican brother of one-time Gilas rival Tae-jong Moon, added 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Baldwin gave big minutes to veteran guard Gary David, who scored 16 points before being benched in the fourth quarter.
S. Lee 19, Moon 17, Lee Ju 12, Lee Jo 11, Kim J. 8, Park 6, Kim S. 5, Kim T. 2, Ha 2, Cho 0.
Romeo 23, David 16, Abueva 9, Castro 7, De Ocampo 5, Taulava 4, Intal 2, Ramos 2, Tautuaa 2, Pingris 0, Norwood 0, Alapag 0. Quarters: 20-21; 36-34; 54-54; 82-70.