Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Gilas Pilipinas pulled away in the fourth quarter to trounce Japan, 81-70, and book a return trip to the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship finals at the Changsha Social Work College Gymnasium in Changsha, China on Friday (October 2).
Gilas will face host-country China, which dethroned Iran earlier today, in the last dance on Saturday (October 3) at 8:30 p.m. The winner will win the Asia’s lone berth to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
As expected, naturalized Filipino Andray Blatche and Jayson William took care of the cudgels with 22 and 20 points, respectively.
But this time, team captain Dondon Hontiveros joined the fray.
WATCH: Philippines versus Japan (Semifinals – Game Highlights)
The sweet-shooting Hontiveros sizzled with 18 points built on six triples, the last of which came in the home stretch and proved to be the dagger, 77-68.
Blatche put the icing on the victory cake by canning four free throws.
The Filipinos started on the wrong foot and gained steam only in the final quarter.
Makoto Hiejima poured 22 of his total output 28 points in the first half where the Japanese even led by a whisker, 17-16, after the opening quarter.
Japan continued to keep in step with the Filipinos until the latter shifted into high gear behind Blatche, William, and Hontiveros in the payoff period.
Japan will tackle Iran on Saturday to dispute the third spot.
