The Philippine men’s national basketball team showed its gilas against the reigning FIBA world bronze medalists, but fell short of an upset.
World number five France showed more experience as it conquered the Philippines, 93-84, in a pulsating opening game at the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) Manila Leg at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay Tuesday night.
NBA veteran Tony Parker, a perennial fan favorite among Filipinos but a villain in this game, played his usual A-game with 21 points and six assists while reigning Euroleague MVP Nando de Colo topscored with 27 points to lead the French assault.
But it was Parker’s long-time buddy Boris Diaw who showed composure in the end, teaching rookie Troy Rosario how it is done in international basketball, laying in an up-and-under finger roll off the pivot for an 87-81 lead at a time when Gilas were coming back from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
France then scored six straight points before giving up Ranidel de Ocampo triple to end the game.
It was a Gilas show though in the first quarter, with center Andray Blatche opening the game with an uncontested dunk off a steal.
He and Parker traded shots in the quarter as the two NBA stars put up a show before the jampack crowd, which included Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Filipinos erected a 30-22 lead at the end of the quarter, with Jason Castro and Bobby Ray Parks scoring off the dribble.
France though relied on picks in the second quarter, opening up drives for Antoine Diot and Joffrey Lauvergne to creep back at 37-39.
Parker then fired seven points to end the second quarter as France gained the lead for the first time in the game, ending the first half at 45-43.
Foul trouble then saddled Blatche in the third quarter as Gilas relied mainly on Jeff Chan’s three-point shooting while Parker and de Colo took turns to burn the Filipinos on offense, as the French erected double-digit leads to dominate the quarter.
It was the same French assault to start the fourth quarter but Terrence Romeo kept pace, showing his razzle-dazzle moves and instant offense against Parker and de Colo.
Down 75-85, Gilas slowly scored six straight points off inside stabs to come at its closest at 81-85, before Diaw sank the layup that proved to be the game winner for France.
Blatche and Romeo led the Filipinos in scoring with 21 and 19 points, respectively. Castro had 14 points while Rosario scored four of his six points in the crucial stages of the fourth quarter, in addition to his nine rebounds.
The Philippines will face New Zealand tomorrow in a must-win game to earn a semifinals ticket in the tournament.
Earlier, Toronto spitfire Corey Joseph shined with 21 points to lead Canada, 77-69, against Turkey to open in the other grouping.
