FIBA U19: Gilas Youth bows to Greece
Published Jun 30, 2019 12:00 am
by Waylon Galvez
Game Today (Heraklion University Sports Hall, Heraklion, Greece)
8 p.m. – Philippines vs Argentina
Gilas Pilipinas Youth fell to a more experienced Greece squad as the national team dropped its opening match against the host country, 85-69, at the start of the FIBA Under-19 World Cup at the Heraklion Indoor Sports Arena last Saturday in Heraklion, Greece.
The national team fought hard despite the knee injury of AJ Edu – the 6-foot-10 Filipino-Cypriot – and the foul troubles of the ‘bigs’ Kai Sotto, Geo Chiu and Carl Tamayo as all three had three personal fouls each after the first two quarters of the game.
Gilas Pilipinas Youth vs. Greece (FIBA.com photo)
It was a seesaw battle, however, as the Filipinos engaged the Greeks to a game of runs in the third quarter.
After the host nation took a 42-41 halftime lead, a three-pointe shot by guard Terrence Fortea gave the Philippines a 49-48 advantage with 5:45 left in the third period. Forward Periklis Bazinas of Greece answered with his own triple to put his team ahead, 51-49.
Sotto, the 7-foot-2 center of the Philippines, leveled the score at 51-all after he converted on a turnaround jump shot – initially losing control of the leather but recovered it for a basket – at the 4:31 mark of the third frame.
Greece, though, used a 12-5 run to end the quarter with a six-point cushion, 63-57, which gave the home team momentum to slowly take control of things, and true enough, guard Georgios Arnokouros made a layup that gave the Greeks a 67-57 advantage with 8:19 to play.
The closest the Filipinos got was within seven points, 69-62, on a three-point shot by Gerry Abadiano with 6:32 to go. The national team made stops, but the players just can’t convert on their attempts down the stretch.
A pair of free throws by Emmanouil Chatzidakis gave Greece a 74-64 lead with 3:22 left in the game.
The absence of Edu was a huge factor for the Philippines as he was supposed to team up with Sotto. The incoming sophomore of University of Toledo hurt his right knee driving to the basket and was in pain for a few minutes on the floor before teammates helped him back to the bench.
Edu didn’t return, and is now a doubtful starter the next game as the Filipinos collide against Argentina Sunday at 8 p.m. (1 a.m. Monday Manila Time). Argentina escaped with an 86-84 win against Russia in the first game.
Sotto led the Philippines with 13 points and 10 rebounds with three shot blocks, while Abadiano also had 13 points, and Dave Ildefonso – son of PBA’s former two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso – added 13 points. Tamayo had nine points, while Edu was scoreless in two minutes of action.
Nikolaos Arsenopoulos led Greece with 18 points, Aristotelis Sotiriou contributed 16 points, while Emmanouil Chatzidakis and Zois Karampelas had 180 points each.
Greece, Argentina, Russia and the Philippines are in Ground C.
The first round is a classification stage to determine the placing of teams heading towards the crossover knockout round. The teams from Group C will face off with teams in Group D, which includes Serbia, China, Puerto Rico and France.
Gilas Pilipinas Youth vs. Greece (FIBA.com photo)
It was a seesaw battle, however, as the Filipinos engaged the Greeks to a game of runs in the third quarter.
After the host nation took a 42-41 halftime lead, a three-pointe shot by guard Terrence Fortea gave the Philippines a 49-48 advantage with 5:45 left in the third period. Forward Periklis Bazinas of Greece answered with his own triple to put his team ahead, 51-49.
Sotto, the 7-foot-2 center of the Philippines, leveled the score at 51-all after he converted on a turnaround jump shot – initially losing control of the leather but recovered it for a basket – at the 4:31 mark of the third frame.
Greece, though, used a 12-5 run to end the quarter with a six-point cushion, 63-57, which gave the home team momentum to slowly take control of things, and true enough, guard Georgios Arnokouros made a layup that gave the Greeks a 67-57 advantage with 8:19 to play.
The closest the Filipinos got was within seven points, 69-62, on a three-point shot by Gerry Abadiano with 6:32 to go. The national team made stops, but the players just can’t convert on their attempts down the stretch.
A pair of free throws by Emmanouil Chatzidakis gave Greece a 74-64 lead with 3:22 left in the game.
The absence of Edu was a huge factor for the Philippines as he was supposed to team up with Sotto. The incoming sophomore of University of Toledo hurt his right knee driving to the basket and was in pain for a few minutes on the floor before teammates helped him back to the bench.
Edu didn’t return, and is now a doubtful starter the next game as the Filipinos collide against Argentina Sunday at 8 p.m. (1 a.m. Monday Manila Time). Argentina escaped with an 86-84 win against Russia in the first game.
Sotto led the Philippines with 13 points and 10 rebounds with three shot blocks, while Abadiano also had 13 points, and Dave Ildefonso – son of PBA’s former two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso – added 13 points. Tamayo had nine points, while Edu was scoreless in two minutes of action.
Nikolaos Arsenopoulos led Greece with 18 points, Aristotelis Sotiriou contributed 16 points, while Emmanouil Chatzidakis and Zois Karampelas had 180 points each.
Greece, Argentina, Russia and the Philippines are in Ground C.
The first round is a classification stage to determine the placing of teams heading towards the crossover knockout round. The teams from Group C will face off with teams in Group D, which includes Serbia, China, Puerto Rico and France.