Hard-fighting Gilas bows to Estonia

ANDRAY Blatche (left), taking on Asi Taulava during a recent scrimmage, scores 16 against Estonia. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

GRITTY Gilas Pilipinas stumbled to a second straight loss in the Toyota Four Nations Cup in Estonia early Saturday morning after giving the host country a scare, 80-90, at Saku Suurhall Arena in Tallinn.

The Filipinos started out poorly but finished with a lot of flair to dramatize their vast improvement overnight after taking a 27-point beating at the hands of The Netherlands.

Andray Blatche scored 16 points and guards Jason Castro and Terrence Romeo combined for 22 as Gilas got a lot more people involved offensively in just its second official game since being put together last Aug. 3.

Gilas struggled from the floor in the opening period against the Estonians to drop into a 23-point hole, but fought back in the second half and came within nine points, 68-77, heading into the final three minutes after a Romeo triple.

A similar drought, which happened in the third quarter on Friday where the Filipinos scored just four points while giving up 29, doomed  Gilas against the Dutchmen on opening night.

Gilas concludes it’s three-day stint here against Iceland, a team which coach Tab Baldwin described as inferiorly talented than Netherlands and Estonia but one “which will go at you right from the start.”

Calvin Abueva, who was inserted in the starting lineup but fouled out in the third period, Jimmy Alapag and the injured Ranidel de Ocampo will sit out the game against Iceland.

“Iceland is not as skilled and talented as The Netherlands and Estonia, but they go hard at you each and every time,” Baldwin was quoted by Sports5 after the second straight loss.

“We will find out what the boys are made of after that (Iceland) game.”

Baldwin is prepping this team for the Fiba Asia Championship set in Changsha, China, late next month where the lone Olympic berth for the region will be staked.  Musong R. Castillo