By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
THE Kiwis nipped the Gilas youth, 76-70, in a nail-biting match that ended the latter’s 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup campaign in Heraklion, Greece last July 7, 2019.
Gilas placed fourteenth in the tournament, winning only one game in the tournament.
Gilas came close to their second win, playing the Kiwis evenly from the first to the last period, but it was not to be.
With 1:15 left in the final quarter, Gilas led 70-67 but a clutch three pointer from Oscar Oswald deadlocked the game at 70.
Gilas missed their opportunity to score, and as the possession shifted back to the Kiwis, Flynn Cameron dribbled past the Gilas defense, and scored a lay-up that put them back in the lead, 72-70.
Gilas tried but failed to score in the last ten seconds of the match.
Carl Tamayo sparked Gilas with a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort.
Dave Ildefonso and Dalph Panopio scored 16 apiece, while Kai Sotto was limited to just 8 points.
Scores:
New Zealand – Cameron 21, Darling 16, de Geest 15, Oswald 6, Perrott-Hunt 5, Higgins 4, Mete 4, Moors 3, Faamausili 2, Mennenga 0, Poppe 0, Stephens 0.
Philippines – Tamayo 24, Ildefonso 16, Panopio 16, Sotto 8, Abadiano 2, Chiu 2, Oczon 2, Spencer 0, Amsali 0, Fortea 0, Torres 0.
