Young Gilas squad stuns China with 79-all ending in tune-up game

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Gilas Pilipinas showed they are for real after putting the huge Chinese national team to the test with a 79-all finish during their tune-up game days after the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers ended.

Without stretch big man Carl Tamayo and swingman Dwight Ramos, the young boys in blue and white still did the unthinkable and managed to bang bodies with China.

Gilas had a commanding lead, 78-71, with 1:07 time left in the fourth but an 8-1 Chinese scoring avalanche deadlocked the score at 79 at the end of regulation.

Kai Sotto top-scored Gilas with 13 points while naturalized center Ange Kouame and shooter Jordan Heading added 12 each.

RJ Abarrientos continued his stellar performance after dropping nine points but the “Korean killer” SJ Belangel had a rough night dealing with foul trouble.

The tune-up game was agreed upon by both parties as part of their practice plans for the upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Belgrade, Serbia.

Heading to the Belgrade tournament, coach Tab Baldwin and his staff decided to cut Lebron Lopez and Javi Gomez de Liaño out of the lineup.