More than 19,000 fans watched as the Gilas Pilipinas lost to Taiwan 84-79 in the FIBA Asia Championships at the Malls of Asia Arena yesterday.
Gilas were in control of the match after Larry Fonacier scored 3-pointer after 3-pointer in the 3rd quarter and the Philippines entered the final 10 minutes with a huge 68-55 lead.
All the hard work was undone in the final quarter. Gilas failed to stop Taiwan’s offensive onslaught as the visitors outscored the home team 19-4 to leave the score at 74-72 with 4 minutes left on the clock.
Fonacier led the Philippines’ scoring with 21 points while Douthit got the better of his Taiwan counterpart with 16 markers and 10 rebounds.
Jayson Castro could only convert four of his 15 shot attempts to finish with 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Gilas head coach Chot Reyes apologized for his team’s first loss of the tournament..
“Allow me to apologize to our countrymen. I would have wanted to win this game for them. We should have been better in rotating the players,” he said
Both teams advance to the second round Group E along with Jordan, as well as the other three teams from Group B, Qatar, Japan and Hong Kong.
Gilas will play Japan in the second round on Monday.
Photo: FIBA Asia
