Gilas Pilipinas in a tune-up game versus Turkey in Manila. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Turkey used a strong third quarter and dispatched a pesky Philippines in its tuneup game, 84-76, Friday at Mall of Asia Arena ahead of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Both teams will compete qualifiers at the same venue starting July 5, but won’t cross paths until they make the semifinals.
READ: PROFILES: Gilas Pilipinas Final 12 for Fiba Olympic Qualifiers
Turkey staged a 16-0 run across the second and third quarters to establish a 50-33 lead after Ali Muhammed drilled a triple at the 8:38 mark of the penultimate period.
Gilas Pilipinas cut the lead down to five, 58-53, with its own scoring blitz, 20-8, until the late moments of the third but failed to snatch the victory away.
There was a scary moment for the Filipinos when naturalized center Andray Blatche limped off the floor with 4:43 remaining and Turkey leading 74-65.
Muhammed led the Giant Men with 16 points.
Semih Erden had 13 points and six rebounds while Omer Asik finished with a similar line of 13 points and five boards for Turkey.
Blatche had a game-high 20 points to go along seven boards while Terrence Romeo added 16 points of his own.
Jayson Castro and Gabe Norwood also finished in double-figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively.