By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Gilas Pilipinas stumbled yet again in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup after an 87-68 beating of South Sudan in the classification round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, August 31.
It was a disappointing defeat for the Philippine men’s basketball team as they kissed their bid for an outright spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics goodbye as they dropped to a 0-4 win-loss record.
They will end their campaign against China tonight.
“We’re very, very down. Nothing else we can say, right? Morale is really low. Our job is to get everybody ready for the next game. Starts with our mindset,” Gilas head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes said.
Gilas Pilipinas had a disastrous start as they allowed South Sudan to build a 12-2 advantage in the first quarter, a lead that later grew to as high as 51-33 at the half before the home team mounted its run.
Dwight Ramos unloaded eight straight points to start the third quarter to cut the deficit to 41-51. South Sudan managed to widen it to 13 points, but a late triple by Jordan Clarkson made it a 50-60 score.
Gilas continued the momentum in the fourth period with baskets from Clarkson, AJ Edu and Kai Sotto to come closest at 56-60, but back-to-back hits by Wenyen Gabriel and Majok Deng increased South Sudan’s lead to 64-56.
Ramos pulled Gilas to within 59-64 with a three-pointer, but back-to-back baskets by Carlik Jones, a three-pointer and three free throws by Nuni Omot and another inside hit by Gabriel padded South Sudan’s edge to 81-66.
Jones had near triple-double numbers of 17 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds. Omot and Deng contributed 13 markers apiece for South Sudan, which is also fighting for an outright Olympics spot in the classification round.
Marial Shayok also made his presence felt for South Sudan with 12 points, while former Los Angeles Lakers big man Gabriel had double-double 11 points and 12 rebounds in the win.
Clarkson top-scored for Gilas with 24 points, including four three-pointers. Ramos had a double-double 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Edu ended with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
SOUTH SUDAN 87 — Jones 17, Deng 13, Omot 13, Shayok 12, Gabriel 11, Kacuol 8, Kuany 8, Acuoth 3, Dech 2, Maluach 0.
PHILIPPINES 68 — Clarkson 24, Ramos 20, Edu 12, Sotto 8, Malonzo 4, Abando 0, Aguilar 0, Fajardo 0, Pogoy 0, Thompson 0, Ravena 0, Perez 0.
Quarterscores: 34-17, 51-33, 60-50, 87-68./ASC, WDJ