After its crushing loss to Australia, Gilas Pilipinas renewed its confidence and outlasted Japan, 89-84, to end the second window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers with great victory at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.
Gilas Pilipinas showed its grit and tenacity on the floor with their thirst for a win after losing to the Australia Boomers, 68-84 on Thursday.
Gilas started slow midway through the first quarter, registering only four points compared to Japan’s 20.
Kiefer Ravena and June Mar Fajardo provided the spark Gilas needed to lead a 37-6 run that proved their dominance of the game till the second quarter to claim a 41-26 lead.
However, Japan was not a team to give up easily, as they made a 15-2 run that cut the deficit to 43-41.
Japan, hopeful to clinch a win, kept pressure on Gilas and almost drained the energy out of them, but Gilas Pilipinas had its bench ready to hold off the Japanese and help secure the win.
Gilas mounted an 85-71 lead midway the fourth quarter, but Japan’s Akatsuki 5 took a 13-1 run along with shooting guard Daika Tanaka’s back-to-back layups that cut the deficit to two points, 84-86.
Jayson Castro, who returned to Gilas Pilipinas after missing its game against Australia on Thursday, sank a game-winning basket for an 88-84 lead with ten seconds remaining in the game.
Tanaka tried to salvage the game in the little time left, but his three-point shot missed, signalling the whole arena in a chorus of cheers.
“We knew we were gonna have a hard time, because of the flight that we took,” said Gilas Coach Chot Reyes, referring to their 12-hour flight from Melbourne.
“I think it showed in our start, but luckily, our second group gave us a lot back into the ball game,” added Reyes, as the Philippine bench had an outstanding 50-19 record over Japan.
Andrey Blatche, who only scored 8 in their game against Australia, did not disappoint the home crowd as he led Gilas with a double-double record of 18 points and 16 rebounds along with four assists, that kept Japan winless after four games in the tournament.
Troy Rosario also returned with 14 points, while Ravena made it big with 13 points and five assists. Castro managed to contribute eight points, despite enduring ankle pain.
Meanwhile, Makoto Hiejima led Japan with 23 points.
The next set of FIBA World Cup games is set on June 29, when Gilas Pilipinas faces Chinese Taipei and on July 2, Gilas will host Australia.
