Gilas-PH whips Talk N’ Text, battles New Zealand club next
GILAS Pilipinas’ Andray Blatche (right) and Talk ‘N Text rookie Moala Tautuaa battle for position at the low blocks. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Minus the intensity and atmosphere of an international game, Gilas Pilipinas scored a 93-77 win over Talk ‘N Text Friday night at the start of the MVP Cup Invitational at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Terrence Romeo scored 22 points and had five assists in leading the Nationals to the lopsided win which Gilas coach Tab Baldwin later on said “felt like a scrimmage.”
“It didn’t feel like international basketball for us,” Baldwin, smiling, said.
Andray Blatche huffed and puffed his way to 12 points in 24 minutes and Jason Castro tossed in 14 as Gilas primed itself for an interesting clash with the Wellington Saints of New Zealand at 5 p.m. Saturday also at the Big Dome in Cubao.
And that is a match that Baldwin likes, more so since the Saints added more height to their roster by taking in former PBA import Jameel Watkins after the Jones Cup in Taipei last Sunday.
“Hopefully, tomorrow night, New Zealand will stiffen up. They want to win this tournament,” Baldwin said.
“We need to improve the overall intensity,” he went on. “When we’re out there playing against guys we’re not friendly with, the intensity will surely pick up.”
Larry Fonacier led the Tropang Texters with 20 points and Moala Tautuaa, the first overall pick in the last Draft, scored 16.
The Saints, meanwhile, proved too hot for undermanned Chinese Taipei to handle and posted a 108-80 victory in the first game.
The Kiwis opened up an 11-3 lead and never looked back.
The scores:
First Game
WELLINGTON SAINTS 108—Ruscoe 25, Turner 25, Davis 18, Watkins 14, Edwards 13, Brawell 8, Newton 3, Ekenasio 2, Mills 0, Bloxham 0, Adams 0.
CHINESE TAIPEI 80—Liu 13, Tsai 11, Tien 11, Lu 9, Davis 8, Wu 7, Chen 7, Chen, S. 5, Hung 5, Chen Shih 4, Lin 0.
Quarters: 31-24, 45-42, 76-60, 108-80.
Second Game
GILAS PILIPINAS 93—Romeo 22, Castro 14, Blatche 12, De Ocampo 12, Abueva 8, Intal 7, Taulava 6, Thoss 6, Ganuelas 4, Pingris 2, Hontiveros 0, Norwood 0.
TALK ‘N TEXT 77—Fonacier 20, Tautuaa 16, Rodriguez 12, Seigle 8, Rosario 5, Sumalinog 5, Reyes 3, Miranda 2, Carey 2, Labagala 2, Reyes, J. 2, Espiritu 0, Aban 0.
Quarters: 23-22, 45-40, 69-52, 93-77.
