Gilas Pilipinas went on a late run to top Australian club Adelaide 36ers, 92-83, Friday in the first of their two-game exhibition series at the Meralco Gym.
Roger Pogoy, appearing in a national team jersey for the first time since his PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals stint with TNT KaTropa, hit two triples during a 12-2 windup to give Gilas the win in a closed-door game witnessed by a privileged few.
Naturalized player Andray Blatche had 19 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists while Japeth Aguilar scored 17 points including a two-handed dunk over 36ers import Eric Griffin with 32.3 seconds left that settled the final score.
CJ Perez added 12 points and Pogoy and Paul Lee produced 10 points apiece for the national cagers.
Coach Yeng Guiao, however, said that there’s plenty of work needs to be done after Gilas had a difficult time trying to execute against Adelaide’s pressure defense, particularly in the second quarter.
“The 36ers really gave us a good game. I thought it was exactly what we needed — roughed, physical, playing against bigger teams, playing against bigs who can run and quick,” said Guiao.
“This gave us a glimpse of what we will face and it will give us time to make some adjustments,” added Guiao, whose team and the 36ers return to action on Sunday at the same venue.
American import Ramone Moore scored 16 points while team captain Brendan Teys added 10 for the 36ers.
Teys had six in the fourth quarter, including a tough shot over June Mar Fajardo and a layup to put Adelaide ahead 81-80 with 5:15 remaining in the second.
But Blatche hit a crosscourt pass for Pogoy who nailed his first three to put the Nationals in front 83-81.
Teys lost the ball on the ensuing possession and Blatche found Pogoy for the layup to extend Gilas’ lead to four, 85-81. Pogoy stole the ball from Jack McVeigh and Perez converted a layup for 87-81, 2:42 to go in the fourth.
Blatche had another crosscourt pass to Pogoy, whose second three made it 90-81. Griffin answered with a slam for the 36ers but Aguilar responded with a dunk of his own to settle the final count.
The Nationals missed the services of Matthew Wright and Poy Erram due to their ankle injuries while Kiefer Ravena sat on the sidelines on the final day of his 18-month FIBA suspension.
June Mar Fajardo, also back in Gilas uniform after helping SMB capture the PBA crown, had four points and three rebounds in 11 minutes. (JONAS TERRADO)
The scores:
PHILIPPINES 92 — Blatche 19, Aguilar 17, Perez 12, Pogoy 10, Lee 10, Bolick 8, Almazan 7, Barroca 5, Fajardo 4, Rosario 0, Norwood 0.
ADELAIDE 83 — Moore 16, Froling 11, Teys 10, Dillon 10, Taylor 9, Griffin 9, Kyei 8, Johnson 6, McVeigh 4, White 0.
Quarters: 25-16; 50-49; 73-68; 92-83.
