Asian Qualifiers 2018:

Rumble at the Arena – Australia romps over Gilas, 89-53

July 2, 2018 – Bulacan Arena

FIBA Asian Qualifiers 2018 News: Australia romped over Gilas Pilipinas, 89-53, but the highlight of the World Cup 2019 qualifier this Monday at the Bulacan Philippine Arena was the all-out bench-clearing brawl between the Aussies and Filipinos. Roger Pogoy was at the center of the melee after an offensive play altercation with Christopher James Goulding. Consequently, Daniel Kickert retaliated with a sucker elbow and decked Pogoy that resulted to the chaotic court rumble. 

Notes:
James Goulding carried the Boomers with 23 points on 4 of 5 Three Point shooting (80% clip).

Andray Blatche led the losing Gilas with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

➤ The Filipinos later lost the game by default as it lost the majority of players due to ejection, and later the remaining players being disqualified due to fouls.

➤ The game was halted by the brawl in the third quarter with 04:01 remaining and Australia ahead big, 79-48. In all, nine Filipino players and four Aussies were ejected from the game. It was later continued with Pilipinas Basketball team being limited to only three players: June Mar Fajardo, Baser Amer, and Gabe Norwood.

Fajardo was saddled with early foul trouble and was limited to only 10 points.

➤ It was revealed by Coach Chot Reyes that Daniel Kickert was taunting and physically hitting Filipino players even during the shootaround warm-up period.

➤ Australia is now up with a 5-1 win-loss slate in the first round of the Qualifiers to top Group B while the Philippine basketball team settles for second with a 4-2 record. Both teams automatically advance to the second round together with third placer Japan beginning this September.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 23-18, 57-32, 89-53.

australia: 89

Goulding 20, Kickert 12, Dellavedova 9, Maker 8, Brandt 8, Lisch 7, Sobey 7, Kay 7, Gliddon 6, Drmic 5, McCarron 0, Cadee 0.

gilas pilipinas: 53

Blatche 12, Fajardo 10, Castro 8, Romeo 6, Aguilar 6, Norwood 4, Pogoy 4, Amer 3, Abueva 0, Wright 0, Rosario 0 .

July 3, 2018 - The Arena, Bulacan

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Asian Qualifiers 2018:

Gilas Pilipinas batters Chinese Taipei, 91-73

June 30, 2018 – Taiwan

Asian Qualifiers 2018: Gilas Pilipinas whacked Chinese Taipei, 91-73, in the ongoing Asian Qualifiers 2018 for the FIBA World Cup 2019 this Friday in Taiwan. June Mar Fajardo led the Filipinos with 23 buckets and 4 rebounds, while Jayson Castro and Terrence Romeo contributed 15 and 14 points each.
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Pilipinas Basketball 2018:

Australia Boomers stops Gilas Pilipinas, 84-68

February 23, 2018 – Margaret Court Arena

Australia Boomers stops Gilas Pilipinas, 84-68

photo courtesy of FIBA

FIBA Asian Qualifiers 2019 World Cup News: Gilas Pilipinas failed to sustain an early first-half blitzkrieg as it fell to the towering Australia Boomers, 68-84, in the FIBA Asian Qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup yesterday Thursday at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne. Hot shooting Cameron Gliddon paced the Boomers with 16 points, while scrappy forward Mitch Creek contributed 12 markers and 11 caroms.

Notes:

Pilipinas Basketball is now down to a 2-1 win-loss slate in the continuing second window of the qualifiers.

Philippine Basketball Team held on to a proud 30-25 lead midway the second canto but the Boomers from the land down under answered with a fiery 12-2 run, catapulted by Nick Kay’s double treys, giving them the 37-32 lead before the half-time break.

➤ Australia continually pounded the hapless RP Five from the rainbow country as they built an insurmountable 18 point lead in the fourth quarter, 77-59.

➤ Gilas made a dismal showing in the free throw line as they missed 12 of 19 foul throws. Their field-goal percentage of 43.8 was hardly a factor throughout the ballgame as they also trailed in the rebounds department where the Aussies massacred them 50 to 30.

“The Kraken” June Mar Fajardo led the losing Filipinos with 15 buckets, while Matthew Wright added 9 goals. Naturalized player Andray Blatche ran out of steam as he only managed to drop 8 points and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes.

Gilas Pilipinas will next face rival Japan NT (Akatsuki Five) on February 25 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

➤ Filipino: FIBA Asian Qualifiers 2019 World Cup Balita • Hindi umubra ang paunang bulusok ng Gilas Pilipinas matapos itong pabagsakin ng Australia Boomers, 68-84, sa FIBA Asian Qualifiers para sa 2019 World Cup kahapon ng Huwebes sa Margaret Court Arena sa Melbourne. Tumikada para sa Boomers si Cameron Gliddon sa kanyang16 puntos, maging ang forward na si Mitch Creek ay nagtala ng 12 buslo at 11 rebounds.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 19-19, 37-32, 63-49, 84-68.

australia boomers: 84

Gliddon 16, Brandt 13, Creek 12, Lisch 12, Kay 7, Hodgson 6, Kickert 5, Norton 4, Wagstaff 4, Cadee 2, Sobey 2, McCarron 1.

gilas pilipinas: 68

Fajardo 15, Wright 9, Blatche 8, Pogoy 8, Norwood 7, Ravena 6, Alas 6, Abueva 5, Aguilar 2, Tratter 2, Cruz 0, Malicsi 0.

Posted on February 23, 2018 - Margaret Court Arena - Melbourne

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Pilipinas Basketball 2018:

Gilas Pilipinas faces Australia Boomers sans Castro

February 21, 2018 – Manila

Gilas Pilipinas faces Australia Boomers sans Castro
photo courtesy of FIBA
FIBA Asian Qualifiers 2019 World Cup News: Gilas Pilipinas will battle a full strength Australia Boomers tomorrow Thursday minus ace Filipino Jayson Castro William. Castro recently injured his ankle during a game with Talk N Text KaTropa against Phoenix Fuel Masters last February 7 in the PBA. Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Alas will have to shoulder the pointguard duties for the FIBA Asian Qualifiers to the 2019 World Cup as Jio Jalalon was also relegated to the reserved list.

Notes:

➤ “As of yesterday, he (Castro) tried to go hard in last night’s practice and still, he was not there at all so we decided it wasn’t worth the risk. So Jayson is going to sit out together with Jio (Jalalon), who is also feeling a slight pain in his legs. We decided to play the guys not experiencing any nagging injuries at this point,” confirmed Reyes via Sports5 Facebook live video stream.

➤ The absence of “The Blur” Castro, once the Best Point Guard of Asia, leaves a big hole to the campaign of the Philippine Basketball team. His innate ability to slash and penetrate inside opponent defense will surely be missed. “The Phenom” Kiefer Ravena will have to bring in his bag of tricks to make up for the loss of Castro. He will have to team-up with point veteran Kevin Alas to steer Pilipinas Basketball as Jio Jalalon will also sit out due to injury.

➤ Meanwhile, “The Beast” Calvin Abueva is back to the Gilas fold as head coach Chot Reyes gave the green light to the fiery Kapampangan forward to return to the RP Five lineup. Abueva was previously axed from the roster together with beanpole Raymund Almazan after missing the Gilas first three practices. Nevertheless, Calvin proved his worth to the team as he attended the subsequent training sessions even without the assurance of inclusion.

➤ Coach Chot announced the reentry of Abueva as Troy Rosario and Mac Belo were placed on the reserved list also due to injuries. “Since then, even he (Abueva) knew he was not going to be in the final 12 for the second window, he never missed any practice, he did what we asked of him, whether as a practice player or member of the scouting team,” Reyes said.

➤ Gilas Pilipinas full line-up includes Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Abu Tratter, Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Alas, Matthew Wright, Roger Pogoy, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Allein Maliksi, Gabe Norwood and Carl Bryan Cruz.

Filipino: FIBA Asian Qualifiers 2019 World Cup Balita • Babanggain ng Gilas Pilipinas ang buong puwersa ng Australia Boomers bukas ng Huwebes ng hindi kasama ang pambatong si Jayson Castro William. Na-injure kamakailan sa gulugod si Castro matapos maglaro para sa Talk N Text Katropa noon Pebrero 7 kontra Phoenix Fuel Masters sa PBA. Dahil dito ay magtitimon na sina Kiefer Ravena at Kevin Alas bilang pointguards ng koponang pambansa ng Pilipinas sa FIBA Asian Qualifiers tungo sa 2019 World Cup, matapos na si Jio Jalalon ay mauwi rin sa injury.

Posted on February 21, 2018 - Manila

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Pilipinas Basketball 2018:

Castro propels Gilas Pilipinas over Japan NT, 77-71

November 24, 2017 – Komazawa Olympic Park

Castro propels Gilas Pilipinas over Japan NT, 77-71
photo courtesy of FIBA
FIBA World Qualifiers 2017 News: Jayson Castro William’s all-game heroics lifted Gilas Pilipinas over a game Japan NT, 77-71, to register a win in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers 2017 at the Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo this Friday. Castro spearheaded Pilipinas Basketball with 20 big points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, while Andray Blatche chimed-in 13 buckets and 12 caroms for RP Five.

Notes:

➤ Asia’s two-time best point guard “The Blur” Castro-William, stabilized RP squad as the Japanese home-team mounted several uprisings. Jayson made Japan bleed making 5 out of the last 7 crucial points of Gilas in the final minute, especially the dagger trey at 1:14 remaining.

➤ Gilas Pilipinas led for most of the entire ballgame but Japan’s Akatsuki Five stayed uncomfortably close. Gilas built a large 14-point lead in the second quarter, 24-10, following Kiefer Ravena’s foul throw. The Japanese rallied back with a 12-0 blast in the third to pull ahead, 37-40, until the Filipino dribblers answered with their own 10-3 run to wrest back the lead, 53-46.

➤ Four Filipinos scored in double digits with Castro and Blatche leading with 20 and 13, while Matthew Wright had 12 and Gabe Norwood with 10.

➤ Japan ace Makoto Hiejima led the Nippon charge with huge 20 points and 5 rebounds, while naturalized Ira Brown contributed 10 buckets and 15 boards as well.

➤ Pilipinas Basketball will next face Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) this Monday, November 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Filipino: FIBA World Qualifiers 2017 Balita • Namayani si Jayson Castro William upang iangat ang Gilas Pilipinas kontra sa Japan NT, 77-71, at itala ang unang tagumpay nito sa FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers 2017 sa Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo ngayon Biyernes. Nanguna si Castro para sa Pilipinas Basketball sa kanyang 20 puntos, 7 rebounds at 6 na pasa, maging si Andray Blatche ay nag-ambag ng 13 buslo at 12 rebounds para sa koponang pambansa.
Game Scores:
Quarters: 18-10, 37-28, 59-55, 77-71.

gilas pilipinas: 77

Castro William 20, Blatche 13, Wright 12, Norwood 10, Fajardo 6, Aguilar 5, Abueva 5, Pogoy 5, Ravena 1, Alas 0, Rosario 0.

japan: 71

Hiejima 20, Brown 10, Tanaka 10, Togashi 8, Baba 7, Harimoto 7, Shinoyama 4, J. Takeuchi 3, Ota 2, Furukawa 0, Uto 0.

Posted on November 24, 2017 - Komazawa Olympic Park - Tokyo

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Pilipinas Basketball 2014:

Croatia evades mighty Pilipinas scare, 81-78 OT

August 31, 2014 – Sevilla

Croatia evades mighty Pilipinas scare, 81-78 OT
photo courtesy of FIBA

FIBA World Cup 2014: Team Gilas Pilipinas failed to overcome the Croatian juggernaut in the FIBA World Cup 2014 opener with a stunning 78-81 overtime upset. Bojan Bogdanovic led the Croats with 26 markers, while Andray Blatche and Jeffrei “Negros Sniper” Chan dropped 28 and 17 points apiece.

Notes:

➤ In what appeared to be a highly controversial ballgame between the Asian and European powerhouses, Croatia got the better calls in the crucial moments of the contest.

➤ Jayson “The Blur” Castro was called for a highly questionable flop in the third canto, and who unfortunately also got a bum no-call in the final seconds of the overtime while taking a critical clutch trey.

➤ In the fourth canto, Jeffrei Chan missed a contested trey in the dying seconds leading to a 71-All overtime. It was anybody’s ballgame as the spitfire RP five was trailing 78-79 until the final 5.6 seconds of extra time.

➤ All throughout, the Filipinos stunned a clueless Croatia as the Philippines continually dropped 10 rainbow bombs in the last three quarters.

➤ “We just kept on fighting. We knew Croatia was tough but the players fought all the way,” Coach Chot Reyes said of the Pinoy’s gallant stand.

➤ Filipino: Kinulang ang tikas ng Gilas Pilipinas upang pataubin ng tuluyan ang nahintatakutang higante na koponan ng Crotia sa FIBA World Cup 2014. Umabot ang pukpukan na labanan sa overtime sa iskor na 81-78. Pinangunahan ang Crotia ni Bojan Bogdanovic na nagtala ng 26 puntos, samantalang sina Andray Blatche at Jeffrei “Negros Sniper” Chan naman ay bumuslo ng 28 at 17 puntos bawat isa.
Game Scores:
Quarters: 1Q:23-9 CRO, 2Q:37-31 CRO, 3Q:57-49 CRO, 4Q:71-71 OT:81-78 CRO.

GILAS PILIPINAS: 78

Blatche 28, Chan 17, Pingris 10, Castro 6, De Ocampo 5, Alapag 4, Tenorio 2, Norwood 2, Lee 2, Fajardo 2, Aguilar 0.

CROATIA: 81

Bogdanovic 26, Simon 12, Saric 10, Tomic 8, Ukic 5, Lafayette 4, Rudez 4, Zoric 4, Babic 3.

Posted on August 31, 2014 - Sevilla, Spain

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

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