Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

Vengeful Kazakhstan drops Gilas to tie with Japan


Exactly 106 days after being handed an embarrassing loss, Kazakhstan exacted vengeance on Gilas Pilipinas, silencing the home team and its crowd with a 92-88 victory, Friday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

With the loss, the Philippines dropped to a 5-4 record in Group F of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Gilas is now tied with Japan, who blasted Qatar on its home floor, 85-47.

Gilas beat the same team during the Asian Games, 96-59, last August 16. But Alexandr Zhigulin did not allow a repeat; the 6-foot-8 Kazakh finishing with 30 points – 24.2 points higher than his average in the tourney.

In the final frame, it was the 24-year-old Zhigulin who provided the heartbreak for Gilas.

With Gilas picking up a 79-76 lead with 4:06 left courtesy of buckets from June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, and Stanley Pringle, the hot-shooting big man was able to convert two free throws seconds later.

Then after Norwood was called for an offensive foul on the other end, Zhigulin knocked down a fadeaway jumper to knot things up.

Though LA Tenorio was able to score a much-needed bucket, Kazakhstan was simply too hot. Rustam Yergali knocked down the go-ahead triple with 2:17 left.

Stanley Pringle – who had 18 points against the same team during the Asiad – tried to will Gilas back, but the Kazakhs’ precise free throw shooting bucked Gilas’ rallies. A beautiful find by Yergali to a cutting Anton Bykov served as the dagger with 12.7 ticks remaining.

Pringle tallied a team-high 29 points but needed 23 attempts. He also tallied four assists and three boards.

#ReadMore  Yeng Guiao on Gilas' tough group in World Cup: 'I believe in miracles'

Fajardo notched a triple-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Marcio Lassiter chipped in 13 points built on three triples.

Kazakhstan kept its top four hopes alive with the win, raising its slate to 4-5.

Bykov, Kazakhstan’s skipper, had 20 points and nine rebounds as well. Kazakhstan had 12 triples in the game while going 24-of-34 from the foul stripe.

Gilas next face Iran on Sunday, December 3 still at the same venue. Kazakhstan will head to Toyama City to take on Japan on the same day.


The Scores:

Kazakstan 92 — Zhigulin 30, Bykov 20, Yergali 12, Murzagaliyev 11, Kuanov 8, Bazhin 7, Marchuk 4, Chsherbak 0, Lapchenko 0, Gavrilov 0.

Philippines 88 — Pringle 29, Fajardo 14, Lassiter 13, Tenorio 8, Norwood 7, Thompson 6, Wright 5, Aguilar 4, Erram 2, Cabagnot 0, Belga 0, Slaughter 0.

Quarterscores: 17-18, 40-39, 65-62, 92-88.

Written By


You May Also Like

Basketball

Ginebra took a big step in its aspirations of regaining PBA Governors’ Cup glory as it marched on to the Finals after finishing off...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Rain or Shine bid goodbye to its PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup campaign on Friday night but head coach Yeng Guiao remained...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – TNT took care of business and finished off Rain or Shine, 113-95, to formalize its return to the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals,...

Basketball

June Mar Fajardo and EJ Anosike led the third-quarter assault as San Miguel got back at Ginebra, 131-121, to send their PBA Governors’ Cup...

Basketball

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson did everything yet again to tow TNT past Rain or Shine, 81-79, to move one win away from securing a return trip...

Basketball

Aaron Fuller came through in the clutch as Rain or Shine eked out a 110-109 win to avoid falling to a precarious position in...

Basketball

Justin Brownlee starred yet again as Barangay Ginebra got back at San Miguel, 99-94, to take a 2-1 lead in their PBA Season 49...

Basketball

Terrence Romeo came alive and saved San Miguel from Ginebra in overtime, 131-125,, to get even in their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals...

Advertisement