Changhsha, China — The Philippines had its Olympic dreams dashed last night, losing to China in the final of the FIBA Asia Championship, 78-67, an anti-climatic and disappointing end to what had been a glorious campaign.
Gilas Pilipinas could not just put it all together in the final push for the gold medal as China’s big men repeatedly foiled the country’s top scorers, and their sharpshooters turning back every rally.
The game was nearly a letdown. The Filipinos, resilient and deadly in the knockout rounds, missed badly from everywhere, including free throws, allowing China to control the game from the second quarter onwards.
But China’s superiority could not be denied. Though some of its players were just getting their taste of international experience, the Chinese played with more poise, more determination and dominated with their height and impeccable shooting.
Fighting spirit alone did not lift the Filipinos even as they tried hard to compensate for their lack of size with speed which the Chinese also had in abundance.
Still Gilas Pilipinas players can hold their heads high, coming into the tournament as underdogs and getting to the finals of the FIBA Asia Championship for the second straight time.
But silver medal does not get the team to its ultimate target – the Olympic Games in Rio – which could have made history for Gilas with a victory against China. A win would have ended not only the Philippine drought in the Asian championship which it last won in 1985, but also put it back in the Olympics having been there last in Munich in 1972.
Gilas, which settled for the silver medal for the second straight time, will be relegated to the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in July next year with 17 other national teams.
The Filipinos got off to a 5-0 start and were still up, 15-10, when the Chinese scored 12 unanswered points to take control.
After a three-minute scoring spell, Calvin Abueva made two free throws to cut China’s lead to 23-19.
Riding on a 26-16 advantage off the boards, the Chinese took the half, 46-35.
The Filipinos kept the deficit in single digit until forward Li Gen scored back-to-back three point shots to give China a 60-44 lead.
The closest the Filipinos got after that was 60-50 at the end of three quarters.
The Chinese opened the final period with five unanswered points to take the fight off the Filipinos.
Jayson Castro was held to a miserable 3-of-14 shooting to finish the game with just eight points. As a consolation, Castro was named to the tournament’s Mythical Five.
Andray Blatche, the only Filipino to score in double figures, led Gilas with 17 points. Calvin Abueva had nine points before fouling out, the same number put up by Terrence Romeo.
Chinese guard Ailin Duo topscored for the Chinese with 19 points while seven-foot Yi Jianlian, who once played for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA, added 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Seven-foot-one center Zhou Qi, seen as the next big man for China after Yi, fired 16 points and hauled down 14 rebounds.
In the battle for third place, Iran held off Japan, 68-63.
The scores:
CHINA 78 – Guo 19, Zhou 16, Yi 11, G. Li 9, Ding 9 Zhou 7, Zhao 3, Zhai 2, Wang 2
PHILIPPINES 67 – Blatche 17, Romeo 9, Abueva 9, Castro 8, Norwood 7, De Ocampo 7, Hontiveros 6, Thoss 4, Pingris 0, Intal 0, Ganuelas 0
Quarters: 23-19, 46-35, 60-50, 78-67
Source: Manila Bulletin
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