Gilas Pilipinas center Andray Blatche (L) vies with Croatia’s center Luka Zoric during the FIBA World Cup 2014 basketball championships group B match Croatia vs Philippines at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes in Sevilla on Aug. 30, 2014. AFP
MANILA, Philippines — It would not be a walk in the park in the first game as Croatia overcame a nail-biter against Gilas Pilipinas, 81-78, during their opener at the FIBA World Cup 2014 in Sevilla, Spain Saturday evening (Manila time).
Croatian swingman Damjan Rudez iced it for the Europeans, sinking two pressure-packed free throws to give Croatia a 1-0 start in Group B.
Gilas big man Andray Blatche knocked down a triple with five seconds remaining to cut the lead to one, 79-78.
Jayson Castro sent the game into overtime converting on a two-point attempt with 39 seconds remaining, 71-71.
Blatche led the offensive charge of the Philippines, which lost its first game in the World stages, with 28 points while three-point bomber Jeff Chan adding 17.
Bojan Bogdanovic paced Croatia with 26 points.
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