Gilas Pilipinas bucked some tense moments in the first quarter to handily beat Guam, 87-46, in the two teams’ opening game on Friday in their respective FIBA World Cup Qualifiers at Calvo Fieldhouse in Guam.
Coming off a disappointing FIBA Asia Cup campaign where they often started off slow, Gilas once again looked tight in the early goings, even allowing Guam to take a 12-8 lead before settling for a 17-all deadlock to end the first 12 minutes.
Guam was still in front, 25-24, at the five-minute mark of the second canto when Gilas uncorked a 16-4 run to finish the half ahead, 40-29.
Gilas Turns It Up in the Third
Ultimately, though, the talent difference between Gilas and Guam proved too much for the latter, as the former stepped it up after intermission. The nationals finally broke the game open with 18 unanswered points to turn a 46-33 lead into a 64-33 cushion before a last-second trey from Mark Johnson made it 64-36.
Gilas continued to put the pressure on Guam in the fourth, extending the lead to 82-42 with under three minutes left, and coasting for their first win in window 1. In all, Gilas outscored Guam, 47-17, in the second half.
Justin Brownlee Leads the Way
As usual, Justin Brownlee led the way for Gilas with a game-high 22 points on 8-for-15 shooting. Dwight Ramos added 10, June Mar Fajardo had 8 points and 10 rebounds, and AJ Edu chipped in 8 markers and 8 boards. Quentin Millora-Brown, who made his national team debut, finished with 6 points and 9 rebounds in a surprise start.
Fil-Guamanian and San Miguel Beermen stalwart Jericho Cruz paced Guam with 17 points. Veteran Tai Wesley added 12.
