INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?JR Cawaling waxed hot in the final half as Smart Gilas-Pilipinas escaped with a hard-earned 78-67 win over the towering Australian Under-19 squad during a tuneup match Monday night in Canberra, Australia.

The Far Eastern University standout unloaded three momentum-shifting three-pointers and finished with 19 points while speedster Mark Barroca and Japeth Aguilar contributed 12 each to jumpstart the national team?s week-long Australian workout.

Trailing almost throughout, the Filipinos drew firepower from Cawaling in the last quarter while tightening the defensive noose on the taller and heftier Australians.

?We won over a tall, physical Australian U-19 team,? said Smart Gilas manager Frankie Lim of the team coached by Rajko Toroman.

Gilas, down by three points entering the fourth, displayed better teamwork with 16 assists against Australia?s 13 and committed less turnovers, 12-22.

The Nationals were more accurate in the field, sinking 30 of their 67 attempts.

The team?s Australian sojourn serves as preparation for the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou in November. June Navarro

The scores:

SMART GILAS 78?Cawaling 19, Barroca 12, Aguilar 12, Tiu 8, Baracael 7, Slaughter 6, Ababou 5, Jazul 5, Ballesteros 4.

AUSTRALIA 67?Hadziomerovic 12, Sinclair 11, Wroe 10, Drmic 9, Aldrige 6, Trist 6, Creek 5, Fenton 4, McCarron 2, Barry 2.

Quarters: 20-20; 34-36; 53-55; 78-67