Gilas Pilipinas demolishes Indonesia, 76-51

Dwight Ramos

Gilas Pilipinas bucked a sluggish start but started to get its game going with an energetic performance in the second half before putting away Indonesia, 76-51, in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Friday night at the Angeles University Foundation gym in Pampanga. Naturalized Filipino Angelo Kouame shackled Lester Prosper (210-C-88, college: Old Westbury), Indonesia's primary option on offense, and Dwight Ramos (193-G-98) practically did a little bit of everything - from scoring to quarterbacking to diving for loose balls - as the energy they generated was picked up by the rest of the squad. The Philippines' latest win, its fifth in as many games in Group A, kept the team's high spirits for its final game against South Korea on Sunday night. Gilas Pilipinas is already guaranteed a spot in the World Cup qualifying event to be held in Indonesia in August following its dramatic victory over South Korea on Wednesday. With or without any bearing, the Filipinos are expected to play for pride once they meet their long-time rivals on Sunday. Ramos had a double-double performance of 10 points and 12 rebounds, but hardly saw action in the second half as Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin started to utilize the other players like Rhon Jhay Abarrientos (181-G-99), Javier Gomez De Liano (195-SG-98) and Lebron Lopez. Justine Baltazar (208-PF-97) went a rebound shy of posting a double-double performance of his own as he ended up with 11 points and nine boards. Kouame also tallied 11 points. It was the Philippines' effort in rebounding which proved to be the biggest difference as the Filipinos clobbered the Indonesians in the battle of the boards, 58-31, resulting in 23 second chance points for Gilas Pilipinas compared to only five for their rivals. The Philippines' size advantage also played a big factor in the one-sided win as the Filipinos grabbed 20 more offensive rebounds, 26-6. The Filipinos also forced the Indonesians into making 17 turnovers in the game and limited them to a dismal 31.5 percent (17-of-54) shooting from the field. Rhon Jhay Abarrientos contributed nine markers coming off the bench while Kai Sotto (218-C-02) added seven points and seven boards in 18 minutes of action. Prosper, Indonesia's naturalized player, led the way for his team with 22 points, but was hardly efficient when Kouame was guarding him.
Courtesy of: manilatimes.net

Tags : DWIGHT RAMOS, CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA, FIBA ASIA CUP BASKETBALL