MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas broke away in the second half and manhandled India, 88-64, in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After seeing its lead trimmed to 37-44 early in the third, Ilonggo Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III, Bacolodnon Kib Montalbo, Dwight Ramos and Roger Pogoy conspired on offense for Gilas to widen the lead to 68-47.
The national men’s basketball team continued to pound on the Indians in the fourth quarter with conversions from Pogoy as the lead grew to its biggest at 25 points.
Ramos finished the match with 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal, while Ravena backed him up with 15 points, two assists, a rebound, and an assist.
Pogoy and Bolick also hit double-figures on offense with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Montalbo had eight markers, on two triples, in his Gilas Pilipinas debut.
The Vincent “Chot” Reyes-mentored Gilas now has 2-0 slate in the qualifiers after winning by default against South Korea, who backed out from the first window due to COVID-19 infection in the team.
Gilas Pilipinas surged to an 11-6 start behind Ramos and Bolick. Indians tied the score at 11-all but consecutive hits from Montalbo and Pogoy gave Philippines an 18-13 advantage.
Ravena spearheaded the offense in the second period with his outside conversions to widen the lead to double digits. Indians closed the gap but three-pointers by Bolick gave Gilas a 44-32 halftime edge.
India, who dropped to 0-2 in the competition, was led by the 13 points and 10 rebounds of Prashant Singh Rawat.
The Philippine men’s basketball team will vie for its third victory in the qualfier window when it tangles with highly-physical New Zealand on Sunday evening.
BOX SCORE:
PHILIPPINES 88 – Ramos 17, Ravena 15, Pogoy 12, Bolick 10, Montalbo 8, Kouame 6, Navarro 6, Erram 5, Williams 4, Gomez de Liano 3, Rosario 2, Rangel 0.
INDIA 64 – Sekhon 14, Rawat 13, Bhriguvanshi 9, Krishnan 7, Hafeez 6, Singh A. 6, Prince 5, Singh P. 4, Kumar 0, Manjunatha 0.
Quarterscores: 18-13, 44-32, 68-47, 88-64./PN
