PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, right, poses for a photo with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely during the Gilas Pilipinas vs Australia viewing party at Sky Park inside SM Aura Priemier in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net
Depleted and all, Gilas Pilipinas made a good account of itself against heavyweight Australia on Thursday in Melbourne.
And that gallant showing had PBA commissioner Willie Marcial more reason to believe that the Philippines will be a deadlier team in their rematch with the Aussies on July 2.
“They should watch out for us on July 2,“ said Marcial in Filipino during the Gilas Pilipinas vs Australia viewing party at Sky Park inside SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
A heavy underdog, Gilas stayed in step in the first half and even took a five-point lead in the second quarter.
But the Filipinos’ lack of offensive firepower due to the absence of hobbled key players particularly Jayson Castro showed in the second half.
Shots started to fall for the Aussies in the last two quarters, where they led by much as 17.
Already without Castro, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, it didn’t help Gilas’ cause that naturalized big man Andray Blatche appeared winded in the third quarter.
“We lacked intensity in the end,” Marical cited.
“They’re number 10 [in the world], we’re number 31, but just a little more conditioning by Blatche and we’ll be able to keep up with them,” he added.
The Philippines, which eyes a bounce-back win vs Japan on Sunday, will be the host when it faces Australia for the second time.