Gilas Pilipinas showcased their prowess with a dominant third quarter to secure a 74-64 victory against the Taiwan Mustangs in a friendly match on Monday at the PhilSports Arena. This exhibition game was part of the national team's final preparations for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia next month.
Holding a narrow 37-32 lead at halftime, the Filipinos surged ahead in the third quarter. Justin Brownlee ignited the run with back-to-back three-pointers, followed by a fastbreak layup from Dwight Ramos against the towering 7-foot-6 Samuel Deguara, pushing the lead to 58-41.
Despite a rally from Taiwan, where Rashawn McCarthy cut the deficit to 14 with a three-pointer and Ben Borja and Tevis Robinson added consecutive triples to bring the score to 58-50, Gilas held firm. Ramos and Mason Amos responded with their own long-range shots, securing a 70-56 cushion for the hosts.
Ramos led Gilas with 19 points, shooting an impressive 80 percent from beyond the arc, while also contributing three rebounds and four steals. Brownlee delivered a stellar all-around performance with a double-double of 12 points and 15 assists, along with five rebounds, three steals, and one block. Kai Sotto added nine points, nine rebounds, and two assists.
For Taiwan, Oscar Lopez stood out with 15 points, nine rebounds, and two assists, while Deguara recorded a double-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, and one block.
This victory serves as a confidence boost for Gilas Pilipinas as they head to Latvia for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
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