Jordan Clarkson put on a scintillating third-quarter show to help Gilas Pilipinas end its 2023 FIBA World Cup stint with a much-needed 96-75 win over China on Saturday night.
Gilas came into the match facing the specter of suffering a humiliating shutout when it lost its previous four games. Clarkson would simply not allow it.
The Utah Jazz star unloaded 24 of his game-high 34 points in the third where he took matter into his own hands by peppering the Chinese national team with a barrage of points, dropping one trifecta after another that broke the game wide open.
At one point in the third, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year dropped five straight three-pointers that allowed Gilas to turn a 39-40 halftime deficit into a mammoth 73-51 lead going into the final period.
The 34-11 third-quarter run was all Gilas needed to salvage some measure of pride as it avoided finishing the tournament without a single win.
Clarkson went 11-of-18 from the field, including a 5-of-10 clip from the three-point land.
Clarkson also had two rebounds, three assists, and a steal in solid 33 minutes of play.
Rhenz Abando backed Clarkson with 14 points, while Kai Sotto added 12 markers.
Dwight Ramos pitched in 11 points, AJ Edu only had five points but he had 10 rebounds and three assists.
Image courtesy of FIBA
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