FIBA OQT 2021:

Serbia survives Gilas Pilipinas scare, 83-76

June 30, 2021 – Belgrade, Serbia

Australia Boomers stops Gilas Pilipinas, 84-68
photo courtesy of FIBA

FIBA OQT News 2021: Serbia survived the gallant stand of Gilas Pilipinas, 83-76, this Wednesday at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia. The game was dangerously close at crunch time as Gilas stole the lead, 73-74, with 3:50 left in the ballgame, but NBA star Boban Marjanovic’s clutch buckets towed the Serbs past the fighting Filipinos.

➤ Marjanovic powered the Serbs with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Ognjen Dobric netted 16 points – with 12 coming from three-point shots. Gilas Pilipinas, on the other hand, relied on Ange Kouame’s 17 points and 7 boards.

➤ Three Filipinos contributed double digit buckets with Jordan Heading, Kai Sotto, and Justine Baltazar netting 13, 10, and 10 respectively.

➤ Serbia led big late in the game with a 61-47 advantage in the third quarter. Gilas, however, clawed back to tie the game in the 4th with a 67-67 score. Pilipinas could have taken the game in clutch after taking the lead 73-74, but failed to capitalize due to several miscues and missed offensive attempts.

➤ Serbia led in field goals with a 54% clip, while Gilas had 47%. The Serbs also dominated in the paint with 46 points against Gilas’ 28.

➤ Pilipinas missed the services of its main star and scorer Dwight Ramos due to groin injury, while Serbia did not play Nemanja Bjelica due to a leg injury.

➤ It is worth noting that the Filipinos are bannered by collegiate and some high-school standouts with an average age of 22, while the Serbs are represented by NBA and Euro-League veterans.

➤ Serbian Pro League MVP Filip Petrusev admitted that Serbia had a hard time matching-up against the Filipinos as he stated, “(Kouame and Sotto) gave us a hard time, especially without Bjelica out there on the court. We were forced to play a bit small than usual, and they attacked us especially from the four spot. They are talented, no question – and they gave us their all.”

➤ Philippines will next battle Dominican Republic this Thursday to stay alive in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. 

Game Scores:
Quarters: 22-16, 45-34, 67-62, 83-76.

serbia nt: 83

Marjanovic 25, Dobric 16, Teodosic 13, Andjusic 12, Petrusev 8, Davidovac 5, Jovic 2, Milosavljevic 2, Avramovic 0.

gilas pilipinas: 76

Kouame 17, Heading 13, Sotto 10, Baltazar 10, Abarrientos 9, Tamayo 5, Navarro 4, Go 4, Nieto 2, Belangel 2, Chiu 0, .

Posted on June 30, 2021 - Alexander Nicolic Hall

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers:

Gilas Pilipinas repeats over South Korea, 82-77

June 20, 2021 – Clark, Pampanga

Australia Boomers stops Gilas Pilipinas, 84-68
photo courtesy of FIBA

FIBA Asia Cup News 2021: Gilas Pilipinas five repeated over defiant South Korea, 82-77, to sweep the first round of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers this Sunday at the Angeles University Foundation Gym. This is the second win of the Filipinos against South Korea after their first match last Wednesday.

Notes:

➤ Dwight Ramos backstopped Gilas with 19 big buckets and 5 assists with five of nine treys made. Kai Sotto, RJ Abarrientos and Jordan Heading likewise contributed 10 points apiece to power the young Gilas squad.

➤ The Filipinos were on-fire from the rainbow country as they made 14 out of 37 three point bombs for a 38% clip. The game was close all throughout up until the last minute but the national’s firepower proved too much for the feisty Koreans.

➤ The game had some sort of personal rift as Korea’s coach Sang Hyun Cho mentioned last Wednesday that the first Gilas victory came courtesy of a “lucky” three point shot. SJ Belangel dropped that dagger trey to seal the nail-biter victory for the Pinoys. Obviously, Gilas mentor Tab Baldwin was none too happy and stated that the next game will not be as friendly.

➤ Meanwhile, South Korea relied on reinforcement Ra Guna who made 20 points and 13 boards, while Lee Hyunjung added 13 buckets and 8 rebounds.

➤ Pilipinas Basketball will reportedly face China NT in a practice game at the Clark bubble in preparation for their upcoming Serbia Olympic Qualifiers this month.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 20-18, 38-34, 56-54, 82-77.

gilas pilipinas: 82

Ramos 19, Sotto 10, Abarrientos 10, Heading 10, Navarro 8, Kouame 7, Baltazar 6, Belangel 6, Go 6, Nieto 6, Chiu 0, Tungcab 0.

South Korea NT: 77

Ra 20, Lee H. 13, Yang 12, Lee D. 9, Lee S. 8, Kim 8, Jeon 3, Byeon 2, Yeo 2, Ha 0, Moon 0, Kang 0.

Posted on June 20, 2021 - Angeles University Foundation Gym

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

UAAP Finals 2017

Ateneo eclipses La Salle, 88-86, grabs championship

December 3 – Araneta Coliseum

UAAP Finals 2017: Ateneo Blue Eagles wrested the crown from defending champion La Salle Green Archers, 88-86, in UAAP Season 80 Men’s Basketball this Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. Isaac Go‘s clutch play with 24.7 seconds left in the game sealed the win for the Blue Eagles. Thirdy Ravena ably steered Ateneo with 17 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals, and earned him the Finals MVP award.

Notes:

Matt Nieto also contributed 14 markers for ADMU as he made 6 of 6 in three point shooting, while Chibueze Ikeh registered a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

UAAP MVP Ben Mbala led the losing DLSU Archers with his own double-double of 19 buckets and 14 boards, while Aljun Melecio, Ricci Rivero and Andrei Caracut dropped 16, 14 and 13 points apiece respectively.

It was a bitter sweet victory for Ateneo who finally bagged the UAAP crown after five years. The last time the Blue Eagles won in the Finals was when they recorded a historic five peat championship reign in the UAAP Men’s basketball.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 24-14, 45-38, 66-66, 88-86.

ateneo: 88

Ravena 17, Matt Nieto 14, Ikeh 12, Asistio 11, Tolentino 9, Go 7, Verano 6, Mendoza 5, Black 4, Mamuyac 3, Mike Nieto 0.

LA SALLE: 86

Mbala 19, Melecio 16, Ricci Rivero 14, Caracut 13, Santillan 11, Tratter 4, Go 3, Montalbo 3, Prince Rivero 2, Tero 1, Baltazar 0.

December 03, 2017 - Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

Written by Rock Punzalan

UAAP Finals 2017:

Ateneo draws first blood, defeats DLSU 76-70

November 25, 2017 – MOA Arena

UAAP Finals 2017: Ateneo draws first blood, defeats DLSU 76-70
Ateneo Blue Eagles
UAAP Finals 2017 News: Ateneo Blue Eagles took Game 1 of UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball Finals over the De La Salle Green Archers, 76-70, this Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Thirdy Ravena and the Nieto brothers led a balanced Blue Eagles attack to upset the breakout game of Archer Aljun Melecio, who dropped 24 points in Game 1. Ravena powered ADMU with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while Mark and Mike Nieto contributed 11 respectively.

Notes:

Ateneo de Manila University now holds a 1-0 advantage over DLSU in their best-of-three UAAP finals series. Four Blue Eagles scored double digits with Ravena making 12, Mike and Mark Nieto with 11 each and Anton Asistio donning 10 markers.

Isaac Go was the accidental hero for Ateneo, sealing the victory for ADMU with an and-one play off the foul by Archer Kib Montalbo, pushing Ateneo to 76-70 within the last 10 seconds.

➤ The highly physical contest saw Mark Nieto falling to the floor from a wayward elbow courtesy of Ben Mbala. Both Mbala and Chibueze Ikeh were assessed technical fouls for unnecessary taunting in the second quarter. Likewise, Melecio got the unsportsmanlike foul in the same quarter.

➤ Melecio led the spirited Green Archers with 24 points on 5-of-13 shooting from rainbow country, while Rivero gave 10 markers and three caroms for DLSU. UAAP two-time MVP Mbala was held to only 8 points as he nursed his early foul woes throughout the game.

➤ De La Salle University and Ateneo will go at it again in Game 2 this Wednesday, November 29 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Filipino: UAAP Finals 2017 Balita • Pinabagsak ng Ateneo Blue Eagles ang De La Salle Green Archers, 76-70, nitong Sabado Nobyembre 25 sa SM Mall of Asia Arena upang itala ang unang tagumpay sa Game 1 ng UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball Finals. Sina Thirdy Ravena at magkapatid na Nieto ay nanguna sa balanseng atake ng Blue Eagles upang hadlangan ang puwersa ni Aljun Melecio na gumawa ng 24 puntos sa Game 1. Nagtala si Ravena ng 12 puntos, 6 rebounds at 4 assists, maging sina Mark at Mike Nieto na nag-ambag ng 11 buslo bawat isa.
Game Scores:
Quarters: 26-14, 43-39, 60-58, 76-70.

ateneo: 76

Ravena 12, Nieto Ma 11, Nieto Mi 11, Asistio 10, Tolentino 9, Black 7, Verano 5, Go 5, Ikeh 4, Tio 2, Mamuyac 0, Mendoza 0, Porter 0.

la salle: 70

Melecio 24, Rivero R 10, Mbala 8, Tratter 7, Santillan 7, Rivero P 7, Baltazar 4, Montalbo 3, Caracut 0, Go 0, Tero 0, Paraiso 0.

Posted on November 25, 2017 - MOA Arena - Pasay

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

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