Safe to say, the ‘best Gilas Pilipinas team ever assembled’ is still not a well-oiled machine.
The Philippines dropped its first tune-up match against the visiting Jordan as their comeback fell short, 92-99, Monday evening at a packed Meralco Gym in Ortigas, Pasig City.
Gilas managed to knock within three with 3:21 left in the fourth quarter. But Zaid Abbas and his crew made a 7-0 run for an 89-79 lead with 2:09 left to play to close the door on the home team.
Abbas poured 10 of his team-high 24 points in the win.
Mousa Al Awadi chimed in 18 points for the Jordanians. Amin Abu Hawwas contributed 16 points, while American point guard Justin Dentmon made 11 points. Muhamad Hussein had 10.
Fil-German bruiser Christian Standhardinger led the Filipino dribbers with 21 points. Gunslinger Marcio Lassiter supplied 14 points, while Jayson Castro added 13 markers.
Gilas actually tasted leads in the second frame, even leading by as many as six with 5:25 remaining. But the Jordanians banked on their experience and wiped that lead out at the half.
From there, Gilas had difficulty regaining the upper hand, as Jordan found their groove and never gave it up.
The Filipino cagers managed to knock within one possession, 79-82, after a Lassiter trey with 3:21 to go. But Jordan did not crumble, and even made seven straight to virtually seal the win.
Gilas will play Jordan again on Wednesday, November 21, still at the Meralco Gym.
Gilas, who own a 5-3 record, will host Kazakhstan (3-5) on November 30, before taking on Iran (6-2) on December 3. Both games will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
On the other hand, the Jordanians (5-3) will head to Christchurch to take on New Zealand (6-2) on November 29. They then take on South Korea (6-2) in Busan on December 2.
The Scores:
Jordan 98 –– Abbas 24, Al Awadi 18, Amin 16, Dentmon 11, Hussein 10, Obeid 8, Yousef 8, Kanaan 3, Abdeen 0, Ahmad 0, Dasuq 0, Hasoneh 0, Sinan 0.
Philippines 92 –– Standhardinger 21, Lassiter 14, Castro 13, Belga 7, Rosario 7, Wright 7, Fajardo 6, Cabagnot 5, Santos 5, Erram 4, Rivero 4, Norwood 0.
Quarterscores: 25-13, 46-44, 70-67, 98-82.
