Gilas Pilipinas loses big to Australia to end Fiba 3rd window

Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos at the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.–FIBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas wrapped up the first round of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers on a rough note after being handed a 92-49 loss by host Australia on Monday in Perth.

Playing minus an injured Justin Brownlee, Gilas saw itself trailing behind after an 8-all tie at the start and was left to play catch up the rest of the way against a Boomers side at RAC Arena.

The Philippines ended the initial phase of the qualification for next year’s World Cup with a 2-4 record for third in Group A. Australia topped the group by winning all six games while New Zealand is in second at 4-2.

Gilas fell to New Zealand in a double-overtime thriller last Friday in Auckland, 106-102, at the start of the third window.

No Gilas player scored in double figures with Dwight Ramos as the high-point man with nine followed by Kevin Quiambao and June Mar Fajardo with eight points apiece.

Mike Phillips made quite an impression in his second game for Gilas in a Fiba competition as he produced six points and 12 rebounds in 24 minutes.

Bryce Cotton led Australia with 21 points, mainly responsible for the home squad’s pullaway in the opening period.

Gilas trailed 33-16 after the first period, but did impress on the defensive side, holding Australia to just eight in the second to slightly trim the margin to 41-27 at the break.

But turnovers, 19 throughout, hounded Gilas in the second half and Australia managed to build a bigger lead all the way to the end.

Brownlee did not see action for Gilas due to a hamstring injury which the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas revealed on the eve of the game.