Behind the duo of Japeth Aguilar and Andray Blatche, Gilas Pilipinas whipped Congo, 102-80, in the national team’s first tune-up, Wednesday morning (Manila Time) at the Palacio Multiusos de Guadalajara in Spain.
“For a forty-minute game, to score 102 points against a national team, I guess that shows that offensively the system is working,” Gilas head coach Yeng Guiao told Paolo Del Rosario of SBP/Cignal.
Blatche fired 25 points while Aguilar added 22 markers against the 82nd-ranked team in the world.
The naturalized Filipino had the hot hands early, connecting on back-to-back triple to give his side an early 32-19.
Though Congo showed resistance in the second stanza, the third canto was all Gilas, outscoring their opponents 31-16 to gain an 84-60 lead.
Aguilar and Blatche continued to pounce on the Congolese in the final frame.
Mark Barroca added 16 points for the 10-man Gilas squad, who did not play Kiefer Ravena in this contest held behind closed doors.
Gilas will next face world no. 64 Ivory Coast on Thursday.
Quarterscores: 32-19, 53-44, 84-60, 102-80.
