By ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Filipinos fed a towering Kai Sotto who got his position deep inside the paint. He was short on his initial attempt but tapped the ball to himself and finally scored.
Few possessions after, it was June Mar Fajardo’s turn to flex his muscles as he bullied his way before finishing on a reverse layup with his feathery touch around the basket.
Just too big, too strong and too talented.
Gilas Pilipinas just imposed its height and might, clobbering the visiting Hong Kong, 93-54, to sweep the second window of the qualifiers at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, Nov. 24
The Filipinos remained undefeated with a 4-0 record through the two windows and a win by New Zealand over Chinese Taipei on Monday, Nov. 25 would formalize the team’s entry to the main draw.
Sotto and Fajardo set the tone for the Filipinos who had to fend off the slight resistance from Hong Kong in the first two quarters before the rest of the Nationals broke the game wide open with a sizzling second half show.
Fajardo finished with 14 points and eight rebounds while Sotto had a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds in the lopsided affair that also allowed the younger members of the team in Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo and Mason Amos to get some run time on the floor.
Justin Brownlee, who exploded for 30 points in their first meeting which Gilas won easily, 94-64 last February, didn’t have to do much with only 13 points. Tamayo, among the youngsters, also shone with 14 to his name.
Justin Brownlee didn’t have to do much as the Nationals eclipsed its previous 30-point win, 94-65, in the first meeting, finishing with 13 points while Tamayo, among the youngsters, shone the brightest with 14 points to his name
Hong Kong, despite being winless ahead of the contest, showed a good fight and actually kept in step with Gilas behind its outside shooting in the opening frame. The visitors were only down by nine, 16-25, and even fought through a huge 16-point lead to stay within 10 at the break, 35-45.
The Nationals however broke the game wide open in the third frame when they erupted for 22 while tightening their defensive screws and limiting Hong Kong to just eight.
Shiu Wah Leung had 11 while Oliver Xu finished with 10 to pace Hong Kong.
