The Philippine national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas defeated Japan 73-66 in the second round of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship with the final score of 73-66 on Sunday at the Changsha Social Work College (CSWC) Gym Dayun in Changsha, Hunan Province in China.
Watch Gilas Pilipinas vs. Japan Highlights Video:
During the Japan game of the Gilas Pilipinas squad, naturalize Filipino center Andray Blatche was forced to play limited minutes in the first half after sustaining an injury on his ankle.
Gilas weather an early storm in the first quarter and early part of the second round after they trailed as much as 10 points, 29-19. The Filipinos trio of Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo and Calvin Abueva took turns in sinking basketbs to lift Gilas to a 35-33 halftime lead.
The Filipino surge in the third quarter after leading by as much as nine points and ending the quarter with an eight-point lead, 54-46, courtesy of a three-point barrage from Terrence Romeo and Ranidel de Ocampo who combined for four baskets from behind the arc.
Andray Blatche led Gilas Pilipinas scorers with 18 points while Ranidel de Ocampo finished with 13 points. Jayson Castro and Terrence Romeo posted 12 points apiece while Calvin Abueva added with 10 point. Gilas Pilipinas is set to clash with Fiba Asia defending champs Iran today at 11:30 a.m.
