By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team kicked off its Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament campaign on a high note after outdueling Iran’s team B, 76-65, held at the Heyuan Sports Gymnasium last August 3, 2023.
After months of intensive training camp and international tune-up games, the national team finally reaped the fruits of their labor as they clinched their first official tournament win as a team.
Gilas bucked a slow start after allowing the Iranians to drain wide-open three-point shots from both elbows but fortunately, Dwight Ramos responded hugely with an eight-point burst to help the national team avoid a huge hole in the opening frame.
The game figured in a tightly-contested see-saw affair as Gilas used their size underneath to score more while the Iranians relied on their crisp perimeter passing.
Just when Iran thought they could keep pace with the Filipino cagers, the duo of Rhenz Abando and Jamie Malonzo suddenly did damage in the second quarter.
The athletic 1-2 punch provide the much-needed spark that Gilas needed midway through the second quarter.
It was Abando who woke up Gilas after tallying a chase-down block while knocking down a three-pointer in the right baseline.
Malonzo then spearheaded Gilas’ strong closing in the last two minutes of the second period when he buried a trey and a perimeter jumper to give the national team a 40-34 lead heading into the second half.
Despite Iran’s consistent shooting from the outside, the Gilas veterans stepped up at the most perfect time to help them protect their lead.
June Mar Fajardo, the PBA’s only six-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), scored back-to-back hits followed by crucial floaters from RR Pogoy that helped Gilas take a comfortable lead.
Malonzo led Gilas in scoring after dropping 11 points while the duo of Calvin Oftana and Dwight Ramos scored 10 markers each.
Meanwhile, the debuting AJ Edu filled the stat sheets for the national team and ended up with nine points, nine rebounds, and a block.
