Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — No point guards? No problem.
Philippine National Basketball Team Coach Tab Baldwin raised a few eyebrows after he rested all of his point guards for the game, but Gilas still managed to outwork the U.S., 78-74, to come out victors on Saturday (September 5) at the Xinchaung Gymnasium in Taiwan during the 37th William Jones Cup.
Calvin Abueva led the Philippines with 20 points and nine rebounds.
After a closely contested first quarter, which ended 15-13 in favor of the Philippines, the U.S. could not keep up with Gilas as the match went on.
After trailing by as much as 18, the U.S. fought back in the fourth quarter to reduce the Philippines’s lead to just four points with a little over two minutes left to play.
Just when the Americans looked poised to make a comeback, Sonny Thoss stemmed the tide as he knocked down three consecutive shots to put the Philippines in a comfortable spot. But the U.S. refused to go down easily, as they went within touching distance at 74-71 with 40 seconds left to play.
But that was as close as they would get, as the Philippines held on to claim the 78-74 win.
Gilas Pilipinas play their final game in the tournament on Sunday (September 6) against Chinese-Taipei White.
