Gilas Pilipinas Basketball

Andray Blatche had an impressive near triple-double performance while Roger Pogoy came up with big shots as Gilas Pilipinas upended Australian club team Adelaide 36ers, 92-83 Friday night at the Meralco Gym in Ortigas.

Blatche had 19 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists in a scintillating display while Pogoy scored five of his 10 points in a crucial fourth quarter run as the Philippines drew first blood in the two-game goodwill games series in preparation for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Japeth Aguilar finished with 17 points (7-of-9 shooting) including an array of rim-rattling dunks and 3 blocks, while CJ Perez (12 points) and Paul Lee (10 points) both finished in double-digits as well.

Gilas had a strong start over their Australian counterparts, finishing the first quarter ahead 25-16.

But the 36ers were able to bounce back strong behind key players like Ramone Moore, Daniel Dillon, and Eric Griffin, making it a back-and-forth affair.

The visitors snatched an 81-80 lead halfway into the fourth period after a fast break lay-up by Brendan Teys.

That was when Pogoy hit up the scoreboard, making five straight including a big three before Perez sank a lay-up to give the cushion back to the nationals, 87-80.

Gilas shot 10-of-41 from three-point area, and had the slight edge in rebounding, 34-33. They committed 16 turnovers, however.

The two sides will face off again on Sunday to conclude their series.

Head coach Yeng Guiao is then expected to announce his Final 12 roster for the World Cup.

Game Scores:
Philippines 92 – Blatche 19, Aguilar 17, Perez 12, Pogoy 10, Lee 10, Bolick 8, Almazan 7, Barroca 5, Fajardo 4, Norwood 0, Rosario 0.

Adelaide 83 – Moore 16, Froling 11, Teys 10, Dillon 10, Taylor 9, Griffin 9, Kyei 8, Johnson 6, McVeigh 4, White 0.

Quarterscores: 25-16, 50-49,73-68, 92-83.

By Levi Verora, Jr.