Mac Belo. Photo by Fiba.com
GILAS Pilipinas got 30 points and 11 rebounds from Mac Belo in notching a first win in the Fiba Asia Challenge, a 98-86 ripping of Kazakhstan on Tuesday, to stay in the running for a quarterfinal berth at Azadi Basketball Hall in Tehran, Iran.
The crafty scorer out of Far Eastern U led the Filipinos, who dropped their first three games in the 12-nation tournament.
The result gave Gilas the momentum it needs going into its make-or-break clash with Jordan at 10 p.m. Tuesday (1:30 a.m. Wednesday in Manila), with a win shoving the Filipinos into the quarterfinals.
Former University of Santo Tomas ace Ed Daquioag scattered 17 points and Russel Escoto finished with 12 for coach Josh Reyes.
Belo scored 12 of his total in the final frame, helping the Filipinos protect a 70-66 lead entering the quarter.
The Philippines had lost to India, Chinese-Taipei and China, with the Indians and the Taiwanese fielding in basically their A-teams.
Jordan, too, is fielding a very seasoned team being handled by former Gilas Pilipinas coach Rajko Toroman.
The Jordanian skipper is Sam Daghles, who played for Talk ‘N Text in the PBA last season. Musong R. Castillo
The scores:
GILAS PILIPINAS 98—Belo 30, Daquioag 17, Escoto 12, Ferrer 8, Perez 7, Cruz 6, Javier 6, Tolomia 6, Pogoy 3, Gotladera 2, Van Opstal 1, Pessumal 0.
KAZAKHSTAN 86—Yevstigneyev 23, Ilin 18, Bazhkin 17, Micheev 17, Kuanov 4, Konyssov 3, Kozhanov 2, Savchenko 2, Gubashev 0, Maidekin 0.
Quarters: 27-15, 47-37, 70-66, 98-86