THE Philippine national men’s basketball team finished its International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup Qualifiers (ACQ) campaign unblemished after beating Korea, 82-77, on the final day of competition on Sunday at the Angeles University Foundation gym in Pampanga.
Banking once again on a balanced and resilient attack, Gilas Pilipinas, with the win, swept all its assignments in the pandemic-disrupted tournament, topping Group A with a 6-0 record and earning a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup happening in August.
The opening quarter saw Gilas and Korea making runs and counterruns.
Korea raced to an early 9-0 lead in the first two and a half minutes of the contest on the lead of naturalized player RA Guna, Lee Seounghyun and Lee Hyunjung.
The Philippines then charged back, towed by Justine Baltzar and Dwight Ramos, as it went on an 8-0 run in the next two minutes to narrow the gap, 9-8.
The teams went back-and-forth after, fighting to a 20-18 count, with the Koreans on top, after the first 12 minutes.
In the second quarter, the nip-and tuck affair was sustained.
The teams were knotted at 27-all midway into the frame before Gilas outscored its opponent, 11-6, the rest of the way to lead, 38-34, at the break.
In the third quarter, the Koreans came out aggressive, managing to claim the lead, 54-53, with 37 seconds left.
But the Philippines had the last laugh as guard RJ Abarrientos drained a triple with six seconds to go to hand the advantage to his team, 56-54, heading into the final frame.
The Koreans kept charging back in the fourth but Gilas still held sway at the halfway point of the quarter, up, 65-64.
The nationals held a three-point cushion, 77-74, entering the last two minutes.
RA Guna pushed his team to within two points, 77-75, by splitting his free throws with 55 seconds left.
In the ensuing play, Gilas averted turnover with Mr. Baltazar scoring with a breakaway jam with 31 ticks to go to make it a 79-75 lead for his team.
RA Guna scored underneath the basket off a time out to make it just a two-point deficit for them, 79-77, with 25 seconds remaining.
However, that was the closest they could get as Gilas held on the rest of the way to claim the victory.
Mr. Ramos top-scored for the Philippines with 19 points to go along with five assists.
Messrs. Abarrientos, Kai Sotto and Jordan Heading, meanwhile, each had 10 points for Gilas.
For Korea, it was RA Guna who led with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Lee Hyunjung added 13 markers. The team finished second in the group with a 4-1 record.
Indonesia finished third in Group A with a 2-4 card while Thailand was winless in six matches. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo