Gilas Pilipinas lost steam in the second half and absorbed a 96-92 loss against Korea in the 2022 KB Kookmin Bank Invitational Friday, June 17 at the Anyang Stadium in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
The Filipino cagers got the ball rolling in the first half and led by as many as nine points, 43-34, behind the efforts of Rhenz Abando, who shot three huge treys, only to come up short in the next two quarters.
Korea showed its fiery form and dropped a 36-point barrage to turn the tables en route to a comfortable 71-63 cushion in the third period.
With momentum on its side, the Koreans capitalized on the depleted Gilas lineup as the Filipinos only fielded 10 players sans naturalized player Ange Kouame and Dave Ildefonso, who had to be excluded from the roster due to injuries.
Dwight Ramos, with less than two minutes remaining, pumped life for the Philippines as he completed an and-one play to put the game at striking distance, 87-82.
The Koreans, however, banked on the dagger three of Heo Ung in the ensuing play which pretty much sealed the deal against the Filipinos.
Ramos, in his last attempt in the waning seconds, trimmed the deficit by four as time ultimately expired.