MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team ended its Torneo de Malaga campaign on a winning note after defeating Ivory Coast, 73-63, in Malaga, Spain.
Robert Bolick Jr. had another solid outing for the Philippine squad with 19 points, including 8-of-8 shooting from the free throw line on Sunday.
Andray Blatche added double-double 18 points and 18 rebounds.
Paul Lee and Japeth Aguilar also contributed nine points each as Jaymar Perez, Matthew Wright and John Paul Erram combined for 18 markers.
The Philippines has been relegated to the consolation round of the two-day pocket tournament following its 82-71 defeat in the hands of Congo on Friday evening.
Ivory Coast was defeated by Spain.
Bolick and Blatche set the tone for Gilas. They combined for 11 first quarter points for a slim 17-13 edge.
The two had the same output in the second period as the national team increased the lead to 39-29 at the half.
Both teams maintained the tempo in the second half with Lee and Aguilar joining the scoring as the Gilas Pilipinas hung to a 52-42 third quarter edge and a 73-63 victory after 40 minutes.
For Ivory Coast, Deon Thompson finished with double-double 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Guy Landry Edi and Mohamed Kone contributed 15 and 11 markers, respectively./PN
