BOCAUE – Gilas Pilipinas suffered a heart-wrenching 87-81 loss against the Dominican Republic in their opening game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Group A, held on Friday night at the Philippine Arena.
Jordan Clarkson fouled out of the game at the 3:32 mark in the fourth quarter, with the Nationals trailing 76-79. Despite the chance to narrow the lead to just one point, AJ Edu split his free throws, leaving the Filipinos trailing 79-81 with 1:54 remaining.
Clarkson concluded the game with 28 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and eight turnovers in 34 minutes and 31 seconds of playtime.
Victor Liz managed to convert a layup on the ensuing play despite a foul from June Mar Fajardo, extending the Dominican Republic’s lead to 83-79. Unfortunately, Liz landed awkwardly on his back, leading to Lester Quinones taking the free throw, which was ultimately missed.
Despite these efforts, Gilas failed to mount a comeback, ultimately conceding the hard-fought game to the Dominicans.
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes praised the team’s fighting spirit, saying, “I truly admire the resilience of our players. They fought valiantly and competed with great determination. Regrettably, Jordan’s [Clarkson] disqualification dealt us a significant blow. Nonetheless, dwelling on that won’t help us now.”
Reyes added, “Our focus should shift to the next game. We have a quick turnaround, and we need to prepare for our match against Angola.”
Leading the way for the Dominican Republic was Karl-Anthony Towns, who contributed 26 points, securing 10 rebounds on a 5-of-16 shooting performance from the field.
Liz chipped in with 18 points, six rebounds, and four steals in the victorious effort, while Andres Feliz showcased an all-around performance with 12 points, eight assists, and six rebounds.
Looking ahead, the Dominican Republic is set to face Italy next on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
On the Philippine side, June Mar Fajardo contributed significantly with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Dwight Ramos provided 13 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Meanwhile, Gilas Pilipinas will enter a must-win situation against Angola later that day at 8:00 p.m.
The Scores:
Dominican Republic 87 – Towns 26, Liz 18, Feliz 12, Montero 6, Delgado 6, Figueroa 5, Pena 5, Vargas 5, Mendoza 2, Quinones 2, Solano 0.
Philippines 81 – Clarkson 28, Fajardo 16, Ramos 13, Edu 7, Pogoy 6, Thompson 5, Abando 2, Aguilar 2, Ravena 2, Malonzo 0, Sotto 0.
Quarterscores: 22-18, 42-42, 66-64, 87-81
