It might just be a tune-up game but this batch of Gilas Pilipinas cadets displayed “puso”.
Down by as much as 25 points in the first half, Gilas Pilipinas clawed their way back, stunning the NLEX Road Warriors, 113-112, Wednesday evening at the Meralco Gym in Pasig Ciy.
Mike Myers and Kiefer Ravena led Gilas with 13 points each. But it was Filipino-German enigma Christian Standhardinger who lifted the national team down the stretch.
After a Raul Soyud lay up gave NLEX a 112-108 lead with 17 second left, Standhardinger ran the length of the court for the hoop to cut the lead to just a solitary shot.
Matthew Wright was then able to steal an inbound pass by Larry Fonacier. The Phoenix rookie swung the ball to Jiovani Jalalon, who passed the ball to Kiefer Ravena. Ravena then found Standhardinger underneath for the game-winning basket.
Standhardinger, who celebrated his birthday last Tuesday, finished the game with 12 points. The Far Eastern University duo of Carl Cruz and Mac Belo chipped in 11 and nine points respectively.
Still, Gilas head coach Chot Reyes rued the frenetic pace the cadets played in.
“Sobrang gulo namin pati ata kalaban namin naguluhan,” Reyes quipped.
NLEX import Aaron Fuller with 26 points, while Rabeh Al-Hussaini added 19 markers.
