Gilas Pilipinas bowed to hulking Turkey for the second time in two weeks.
But this one had the Filipinos looking capable of beating the Turks.
Outsized in every position but never budging an inch despite the odds, the Filipinos narrowly lost to the Turks, 84-76 on Friday night, as both countries ended their tune-up preparations for the Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament set to blast off on Tuesday also at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Turkey used a 17-point third quarter lead to cushion a searing comeback by the Filipinos, who came within five points and had the game hanging in the balance until the dying seconds before a very appreciative home crowd that gave them a boost all night long.
Andray Blatche scored 20 points that went with seven rebounds and five assists, but the Filipinos got back in the game courtesy of Terrence Romeo and surprise National team picks Troy Rosario and Bobby Ray Parks.
Romeo scored eight points in the third period and joined Parks and Rosario in a truly exciting stretch in the period that had the Filipinos coming within five after trailing, 50-33, very early in the quarter.
Even though it was a second straight loss at the hands of the Turks, the Filipino crowd inside the ultra-modern venue gave the home team a huge ovation near the final buzzer.
It was a far departure from a 103-68 loss the Filipinos took from the Turks in Istanbul more than a week back, and it gave this hoops-crazed country hope that upsets can be authored when the July 5-10 Qualifying proper is played.
“We played much better compared to our game in Istanbul,” basketball godfather Manny V. Pangilinan told reporters shortly afterwards. “The Filipino fans saw the level of talent we will be facing in the OQT.”
Romeo missed his first five shots but finished with 16 points – all of them in the second half – while Jason Castro contributed 13 and Gabe Norwood 10.
The OQT opens on Tuesday with the Filipinos to battle France and NBA superstar Tony Parker at 9 p.m.
Gilas clashes with the Tall Blacks of New Zealand the following day and, granting that it fails to upset the French the night before, would need to win this one to advance to the crossover Final Four.
Only one slot for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games is being staked in this OQT.
Two more berths will be disputed in Italy and Belgrade in Serbia at the same time as the Manila event.
But this one had the Filipinos looking capable of beating the Turks.
Outsized in every position but never budging an inch despite the odds, the Filipinos narrowly lost to the Turks, 84-76 on Friday night, as both countries ended their tune-up preparations for the Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament set to blast off on Tuesday also at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Turkey used a 17-point third quarter lead to cushion a searing comeback by the Filipinos, who came within five points and had the game hanging in the balance until the dying seconds before a very appreciative home crowd that gave them a boost all night long.
Andray Blatche scored 20 points that went with seven rebounds and five assists, but the Filipinos got back in the game courtesy of Terrence Romeo and surprise National team picks Troy Rosario and Bobby Ray Parks.
Romeo scored eight points in the third period and joined Parks and Rosario in a truly exciting stretch in the period that had the Filipinos coming within five after trailing, 50-33, very early in the quarter.
Even though it was a second straight loss at the hands of the Turks, the Filipino crowd inside the ultra-modern venue gave the home team a huge ovation near the final buzzer.
It was a far departure from a 103-68 loss the Filipinos took from the Turks in Istanbul more than a week back, and it gave this hoops-crazed country hope that upsets can be authored when the July 5-10 Qualifying proper is played.
“We played much better compared to our game in Istanbul,” basketball godfather Manny V. Pangilinan told reporters shortly afterwards. “The Filipino fans saw the level of talent we will be facing in the OQT.”
Romeo missed his first five shots but finished with 16 points – all of them in the second half – while Jason Castro contributed 13 and Gabe Norwood 10.
The OQT opens on Tuesday with the Filipinos to battle France and NBA superstar Tony Parker at 9 p.m.
Gilas clashes with the Tall Blacks of New Zealand the following day and, granting that it fails to upset the French the night before, would need to win this one to advance to the crossover Final Four.
Only one slot for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games is being staked in this OQT.
Two more berths will be disputed in Italy and Belgrade in Serbia at the same time as the Manila event.
