Jordan Clarkson-less Gilas Pilipinas Defeated by Mexico During Tuneup
Philippine basketball team Gilas Pilipinas loss to Mexico in the pre-World Cup closed-door exhibition game at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The Gilas team was defeated by Mexico in a friendly game four days before the FIBA World Cup, 84-77. Jordan Clarkson, a 31-year-old Filipino-American guard, was left out of the starting lineup.
In addition to Clarkson, Thirdy Ravena and Ray Parks are not in the Gilas squad for their friendly match against Mexico. The Gilas coaching staff did not select Ravena or Parks for the third consecutive friendly.
Following their 87-102 loss to No.18 Montenegro, spearheaded by Nikola Vucevic, the world No. 40 Gilas suffered another setback in their tune-up game against another World Cup-bound nation, Mexico.
Late in the third period, the Guerreros went on a 12-2 run to transform a four-point deficit into a 69-63 advantage into the final 12 minutes. The Nationals kept fighting back, but Mexico was always ready with a solution to seal the victory in a game played behind closed doors at the Philsports Arena.
Scottie Thompson took over the offensive duties for Gilas, scoring 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting in Clarkson’s absence, who was rested by the national coaching staff, based on the article of Spin. Thompson got six rebounds and five assists, while Dwight Ramos and Roger Pogoy both had nine, with Pogoy having his best game in the three friendlies Gilas has played in the last four days.
Kai Sotto had 8 points (2/4fg, 1/1 3pt, 3/4ft), 2 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. Gilas shot 45.2% from the field (28/62fg), including 7-of-23 from distance. Mexico, on the other hand, made 31 of 65 field goals and 13 of 24 three-point attempts. The Gilas made 14 of 19 free throws, while the Guerreros made 9 of 12 free throws. Both teams had 13 turnovers.
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