Gilas Pilipinas needs to play better than it did in handing Japan an 81-70 defeat Thursday night when the Filipinos clash with China for the title tonight in the 2015 FIBA Cup basketball championship in Changsha, China.
The Filipinos needed a big run in the last five minutes behind the booming triples of Dondon Hontiveros and the heads-up play of Ranidel de Ocampo to break the game wide open after being tested to the limit by Japan. For 80 percent of the game.
China was first into the finals after a 70-57 win over dethroned champion Iran.
Whatever the outcome of the game tonight, Gilas and China, as well as Japan and Iran, have secured slots to the World Olympic Qualifier set July 4-10 next year.
Against China, Gilas must regain the fluid plays and stiffling defense that allowed it to blow Iran, India and Lebanon out of the water.
The scores:
Gilas Pilipinas 81 – Blatche 22, Castro 20, Hontiveros 18, de Ocampo 8, Abueva
6, Romeo 3, Norwood 2, Ganuelas 0, Thoss 0.
Japan 70 – Hiejima 28, Takeuchi 18, Tabuse 9, Ota 5, Furukawa 4, Arao 3, Tanaka 2, Hirose 1, Matsui 0, Hashimoto 0.
Quarters: 16-17; 39-all; 54-all; 81-70
Image by: www.rappler.com
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