Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos tries to dam a layup by South Sudan’s Carlik Jones within the Fiba World Cup classification. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines-Jordan Clarkson promised that Gilas Pilipinas would go away all of it on the ground on Thursday evening. The Philippines did simply that, solely it was nonetheless not sufficient to beat South Sudan.
Gilas fought again from 21 factors down however crumpled when it mattered most, bowing to the Vibrant Stars, 87-68, within the classification spherical of the 2023 Fiba World Cup.
With the loss, Gilas additionally missed out on an outright qualification to subsequent 12 months’s Paris Olympics after co-host Japan claimed its second win of the event following an 86-77 victory over Venezuela in Group O of the classification.
Clarkson delivered 24 factors, whereas Dwight Ramos added 20 extra to go along with 12 rebounds within the dropping stand earlier than 9,250 screaming followers at Sensible Araneta Coliseum in Quezon Metropolis.
“Powerful recreation. They shot rather well. They type of took us abruptly [with] how nicely they shot it. They’re a really bodily staff as nicely, in order that they undoubtedly used that as nicely,” mentioned AJ Edu who put up a double-double of 12 factors and 14 rebounds.
“It took us some time to determine the way to defend in opposition to the best way they have been executing. Ultimately, we did and we have been proper there in the long run,” he went on. “[There were] a few issues—a few turnovers, a few missed photographs and a pair massive photographs from them. [Things] Simply didn’t pan out our manner.”
Gilas Pilipinas massive man AJ Edu throughout a recreation in opposition to South Sudan within the Fiba World Cup. -FIBA PHOTO
Gilas went on an 11-0 frenzy and pulled inside six factors twice within the closing interval, however its offense conked simply because the Vibrant Stars reasserted themselves.
Carlik Jones had 17 factors, Nuni Omot and Majok Deng 13 every, Marial Shayok 12, whereas Los Angeles Lakers ahead Wenyen Gabriel added 11 factors and 12 rebounds for the World Cup debutants, who snared their second win within the international showcase.
AJ Edu had 12 factors and 14 rebounds within the stand that saved the Philippines winless in 4 video games.
The Philippines now units its sights on China, which is coming off a breakthrough 83-76 win over Angola earlier to stay in rivalry for the Paris berth.
Gilas and China tangle on Saturday, 8 p.m., on the Massive Dome.
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