By REYNALD MAGALLON
Gilas Pilipinas repeated against Ukraine’s U20 team, scoring an 84-74 victory in their second tuneup game in the wee hours of Monday, July 3 in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Just like in the first encounter, the Nationals took some time to get their bearings going and shake off the young but tall Ukrainian team to take its second win in its European buildup for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Justin Brownlee led the way for Gilas with 21 points and eight rebounds while Cjay Perez added 14 points. Dwight Ramos and June Mar Fajardo chipped in nine apiece while Chris Newsome returned to the lineup after missing the first game due a bruised knee.
Still on the sideline during the contest was AJ Edu (ankle) and Scottie Thompson (back).
It was an overall better showing for Gilas as compared to its 70-61 win in their first game which head coach Chot Reyes branded as their ‘worst game’ so far during the trip.
The Nationals did have a better first half scoring as compared to the first meeting but were only up by three at the half, 45-42, thanks to a Brownlee triple to end the second frame.
It was not until the third frame when Gilas managed to build some separation when it took a 10-point lead, 65-55 towards the end of the period. The Filipinos then asserted their experience and kept the Ukrainians at bay, even padding the lead to its largest at 14 points, 74-60 early in the final frame.
