MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas overcame a slow start to wallop erratic India, 79-63, in the third window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers’ first round last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Dwight Ramos regained his scoring to finish with 21 points to go with five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Ilonggo Kiefer Ravena added 12 markers, four assists and two steals for the Philippines.
William Navarro chipped in 11 markers. Carl Tamayo tallied nine points and nine rebounds despite nursing an ankle injury, while Shaun Geoffrey Chiu hauled 11 rebounds to go with five points and three assists.
The national men’s basketball team ended the first round of qualifiers with 2-2 win-loss slate, second place in Group A behind New Zealand (4-0). India finished at third with 0-4 record.
The three Group A teams will then advance to the second round of the Asian qualifiers and will be bracketed with Group C qualifiers Lebanon (4-1), Saudi Arabia (3-2) and Jordan (3-2).
Gilas Pilipinas started flat as they missed their initial baskets for a slim 5-4 lead before unloading a huge run behind Ramos, Rhenz Abando, Rhon Jay Abarrientos and Kevin Quiambao to pull away at 21-10.
The Philippine team continued its onslaught in the second quarter with a layup and a triple by Navarro and conversions from Tamayo, Ramos and Bacolodnon Samjosef Belangel to erect a 45-24 halftime advantage.
Indians showed some life early in the third as they trimmed the deficit to 33-50 but back-to-back triples from Ravena and inside conversions from Tamayo and Ramos gave Philippines a 65-41 edge.
The Indians then took advantage of an erratic start by the Gilas Pilipinas crew as they trimmed the deficit to 14 points but consecutive inside baskets from Navarro and free throws by Francis Lopez preserved the national team’s triumph.
Muin Bek Hafeez top-scored for the Indians with 13 points, including two outside baskets, while Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon and Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan chipped in 12 markers apiece.
BOX SCORE:
PHILIPPINES 79 – Ramos 21, Ravena 12, Navarro 11, Tamayo 9, Quiambao 6, Lopez 6, Chiu 5, Abarrientos 5, Abando 2, Belangel 2.
INDIA 63 – Hafeez 13, Sekhon 12, Krishnan 12, Bhriguvanshi 8, Goti 7, Rawat 7, Prince 2, Aryan 2, Nayak 0, Tomar 0.
Quarterscores: 21-10, 45-24, 65-44, 79-63./PN
