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Gilas Pilipinas settled for silver in the FIBA Asia Championship after bowing to host team China, 78-67, during their title clash in Changsha late Saturday.
With their superior height and better shooting, the Chinese squad managed to maintain a consistent gap starting from the second quarter.
The Chinese went 9-of-24 from the three-point line and made the most of their free throw attempts by sinking 21 out of 33 charities.
Ailun Guo had 19 points for China, which also got 16 markers from Qi Zhuo.
Andray Blatche paced the Filipinos with 17 points and five rebounds. He is the only Gilas player who managed to tally a double-digit output.
Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo had nine points each for the blue shirts, while Jayson Castro was held to only eight markers.
The Filipinos had a strong start, engaging China in a tight game during the first quarter. But the Chinese had a breakout second quarter while holding Gilas to merely 16 points for a 46-35 halftime lead.
Blatche and Castro tried to rally the Philippine side in the third quarter, but could get no closer than five points.
China eventually secured the title and the automatic qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
But prior the game, the host country apparently used dirty tactics to put the Philippine team in a disadvantage.
The Filipinos’ travel to the stadium was delayed after their electric coaster did not arrive on time due to lack of charge.
Upon arriving at the contest venue, the Chinese utility men were seen fixing Gilas’ ring while China was already doing their practice shots at the other end.
These situations robbed Gilas of precious practice time.
The Philippines still has a chance to compete in the Games with another Olympic Qualifying Tournament coming up in July 2016. The winners will be able to join the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.
Meanwhile, former champion Iran settled for the bronze medal by beating Japan, 68-63.
Malacanang congratulated Gilas Pilipinas for their achievement.
“We join the Filipino people in celebrating Gilas Pilipinas’ silver medal finish in the 2015 FIBA Asia Basketball Championships. Throughout this tournament, our team displayed the Philippine brand of selfless, creative, passionate basketball, fuelled by the warm and vocal support of Filipinos at home and abroad. Our people have shown the world what it means to be Filipino, and this serves as inspiration for all of us to work even harder in our respective endeavors, fulfill our individual potentials, and secure the national pride we have reclaimed, one success after another, in varying fields,” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
“We congratulate our players, our coaches, and supporters, and we encourage all our countrymen to continue their support for our athletes in general, and for Gilas Pilipinas in particular, as they continue to pursue our collective basketball dream of landing a berth in the 2016 Olympics.”
This story was republished with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
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