Gilas Pilipinas’ gallant fightback from 25 points down fell short, absorbing a sorry 90-91 loss to Jordan in their final assignment for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Monday night at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
Scottie Thompson missed two critical free throws and Ray Parks missed a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer as Gilas saw its four-game win streak come to an end.
The Filipinos ended the Qualifiers with six wins and four losses.
Coming off an impressive 107-96 win against Lebanon, Gilas took off to a lethargic start, scoring just 14 points in the first quarter while surrendering 33 points.
Waxing hot from the three-point land, Jordan erected its biggest lead in the second period when it zoomed to a 41-16 advantage.
Jordan ended the first half with a 60-41 cushion before Justin Brownlee keyed a spirited run by Gilas in the third period.
After moving within 64-70 at the end of the third, Gilas continued its fightback in the fourth and went on to force an 88-all standoff on a basket by Jamie Malonzo with 1:49 left.
Jordan took the lead back, 91-88, before Brownlee shoved Gilas within 90-91 with 1:30 left.
The two squads traded empty possessions before Thompson earned a trip to the free throw line with 30 seconds left.
Alas, Thompson bungled the two gift shots that could have given Gilas its first taste of the lead since taking an early 2-0 lead.
Gilas still had the chance to win the match when Ahmad Alhamarsheh missed a jump shot with nine seconds left. Dwight Ramos secured the defensive rebound before Gilas rushed to the other side of the court.
Parks got a decent look at the basket but couldn’t convert a mid-range jumper as the final buzzer sounded, allowing Jordan to escape.
Brownlee fired 41 points in his second game with Gilas. Malonzo was the only other Gilas player to score in twin digits with 11 points.
Image courtesy of FIBA
BOX SCORES
JORDAN (91) – Tucker 22, Ibrahim 19, Z. Abbass 10, Bzai 9, Hawwas 8, Alhamarsheh 8, Alhendi 6, Hussein 5, H. Abbass 2, Alnajdawi 2.
PHILIPPINES (90) – Brownlee 41, Malonzo 11, Thompson 9, Heading 9, Parks 8, Ramos 7, Perez 4, Fajardo 1, Amos 0, K. Ravena 0.
QUARTERS: 33-14, 60-41, 70-64, 91-90.
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