INQUIRER Sports

THE SMART GILAS-PILIPINAS FIVE sustained its mastery over Australian ballclubs, crushing New South Wales Institute of Sports, 82-63, Friday night in Sydney, Australia.

The Filipinos, led by skipper Chris Tiu and Mark Barroca, nailed their fourth win after walloping the Canberra Gunners, 101-84, Australia?s second national team, 79-73, and the host country?s Under-19 squad, 78-76.

The only stain in the Nationals? near flawless slate in their six-game tour Down Under was a 73-all standoff against the Aussie?s second team in their rematch.

Handled by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, Gilas will end its Australian training tour against another club team from Sydney Sunday night.

?Every game is a learning process for the team and we hope to keep on learning and getting tough,? said Gilas team manager Frankie Lim.

Gilas is expected home early next week before leaving for Serbia, where Toroman will test the Nationals against taller and tougher European clubs.

The national team plans to play at least 50 international games before the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou on Nov. 12 to 27.

The RP five is also joining the 2011 Fiba Asia Championship, the qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics. June Navarro