Gilas Pilipinas holds off Adelaide in 1st tune-up

Andray Blatche leads Gilas Pilipinas past Adelaide 36ers Friday in a tune-up game. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas used a strong fourth-quarter surge to put away Adelaide, 92-83, in their first tune-up game in preparation of the 2019 Fiba Basketball World Cup Friday at Meralco Gym.

The Philippines went on a closing 13-2 run capped off by a massive two-handed poster dunk from Japeth Aguilar over Eric Griffin as the game clock wound down.

Andray Blatche paced the Filipinos with a monster effort of 19 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists while Japeth Aguilar had 17 points, four rebounds and three blocks.

Gilas rookie CJ Perez came off the bench and churned out 12 points while Paul Lee and Roger Pogoy finished with 10 apieace.

The two sides face off again in another tune-up match on Sunday where Kiefer Ravena is expected to play his first game after his Fiba ban.