Gilas Pilipinas Defeated New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay Hawks

Gilas Pilipinas, the men’s basketball national team of the Philippines who is currently playing with its final lineup for the FIBA Asia Championship, won its opening match-up against New Zealand’s team, Hawkes Bay Hawks at the Hastings Sports Centre in Napier.

The Game 1 of the Gilas Pilipinas ended with the final score at 82-78 securing their first win on their final preparation for the FIBA Asia Championship which is a key for the Philippines to enter into the World Cup of Basketball to be held in Spain.

The Gilas Pilipinas fielded their complete line-up composed of naturalized center Marcus Douthit, Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Ranidel De Ocampo and Larry Fonacier of Talk ‘N Text, Rain or Shine’s Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood, Ginebra’s LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar, GlobalPort’s Gary David, San Mig Coffee forward Marc Pingris and rookie June Mar Fajardo of Petron Blaze.

The Philippine team will return to action on Saturday in a return match against the Hawks and they will play its third game on Sunday against an All-Star team composed of imports and Kiwis from the NBL at the Pettigrew Green Arena in Napier.

The squad of coach Chot Reyes will battle the Wellington Saints on July 16 at the Te Rauparaha Arena, the Super City Rangers on July 17 at the St. Kentigerns School Gym in Auckland, and the Tall Blacks national squad in a closed-door matchup on July 18.

Gilas Pilipinas vs. New Zealand

 

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