In a rugged game, Gilas routs Russia
Games Today (Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City) 1 p.m. – Iran vs USA 3 p.m. – Japan vs Philippines 5 p.m. – Korea vs New Zealand 7 p.m. – Russia vs Taiwan-B
Gilas Pilipinas survived the rugged plays of Russian club Spartak Primorye to score an 85-71 victory yesterday in the 37th William Jones Cup at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
With almost everyone making significant contributions, the national cagers refused to back down despite figuring in an early skirmish with the Russians to post their second win in three matches while erasing the stigma of Monday’s 82-70 loss to FIBA Asia rival South Korea.
Ranidel de Ocampo had his best game since missing the Estonia pocket tournament with a hamstring injury, knocking down three triples on his way to a team-high 13 points while Calvin Abueva was energetic as usual to finish with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Gilas handed the Russians their first loss after a 3-0 start but not after a pair of incidents in the first quarter that started when Sonny Thoss suffered a nasty cut on his head following a rebound play.
A full-scale brawl almost erupted with 4:11 left in the same period when Terrence Romeo was hit in the face from a ball thrown by Alimdzhan Fediushin following a physical exchange with Russian guard Aleksei Goliakhov.
Romeo was unshaken and was able to produce 11 points in 21 minutes of action.
But unlike in the first two games where Romeo’s performance loomed large, heroes were aplenty in yesterday’s game.
Youngsters Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Moala Tautuaa scored 10 points apiece and helped Gilas maintain its lead in the fourth. JC Intal played quality minutes in the third and scored eight markers while 42-year-old center Asi Taulava stood his ground against the taller Russians for 11 points and eight rebounds.
Troy Rosario also made his Jones Cup debut in style with six points, four rebounds and three assists, even showing a glimpse of what to expect in his rookie season for Talk ‘N Text by conspiring with future pro teammate Tautuaa on several occasions.
Gilas leaned on a strong third quarter show led by the do-it-all plays of Abueva to turn a 43-40 halftime lead into 61-50 entering the fourth.
Spartak hardly gave Gilas a threat, pulling within 61-55 early in the fourth. But the Filipinos displayed steadiness that was lacking against the South Koreans.
Kostiantyn Glazyrin scored 23 points for Spartak Primorye, which earlier beat South Korea, New Zealand’s Wellington Saints and the United States in succession.
De Ocampo 13, Romeo 11, Abueva 10, Tautuaa 10, GanuelasRosser 10, Intal 8, Taulava 7, Rosario 6, Hontiveros 6, Alapag 3, Thoss 1, Ramos 0.
Glazyrin 23, Goliakhov 12, Uzinzski 11, Savelev 10, Fediushin 5, Fedorchuk 5, Ivanov 4, Zverkov 1.
Quarters: 20-23; 43-40; 61-50; 85-71.