Facing a taller team, the nine-man Gilas Pilipinas were still able to find a way to fend off Ivory Coast, taking a 94-83 win, Thursday morning (Manila time) at the Palacios Multiusos in Guadalajara, Spain.
The Philippines is slotted in Group D of the global meet that begins on August 31 in China while Ivory Coast is in Group A.
Though Andray Blatche still posted his usual numbers — tallying 18 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, he received ample support from the rest of the squad.
Down 19-28 to end the opening salvo, Paul Lee stepped up in the second frame, scoring eight of his 16 points during that span to chop the lead down to five heading into the break.
“It was physical,” Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao told Paolo Del Rosario of ESPN5. “They were trying to overwhelm us with their size, with their weight, and with their strength.”
CJ Perez then stepped up in the third frame as Gilas took the lead and never looked back.
Perez had 11 markers in the game.
A scary moment though occurred with 3:52 left in the third canto as Blatche was banged up and sat out the rest of the way.
Despite not having Blatche and Gabe Norwood for the game, the Philippines limited Ivory Coast to just eight points in the final frame.
Norwood was nursing a minor groin injury but is good to go the rest of the way.
Gilas will head to Managa on Thursday to figure in a pocket tournament against Congo, Ivory Coast, and Spain. Gilas will next face Congo with the winner taking on the victor of the Ivory Coast-Spain game.
Details and photo from Paolo Del Rosario of SBP/CIGNAL
