Gilas rips India to end first round of Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers

The Philippines’ Dwight Ramos goes for a layup against India in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers at Mall of Asia Arena. Photo from Fiba

MANILA, Philippines—Undermanned and undersized, the Philippines still proved to be a formidable lot on Sunday night, whipping India, 79-63, to cap its first round in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Gilas turned to its season veterans Dwight Ramos and Kiefer Ravena to assert its mastery over the visitors whom they beat by 24 points in their previous meeting back in February.

Ramos finished with 21 points and five rebounds while Ravena 12 points and four assists to help the Nationals hike their record to 2-2 and manufacture all sorts of boosts for the cage program’s buildup geared towards the World Cup which will be hosted across multiple sites here, in Japan, and in Indonesia.

Will Navarro chipped in 11 points and four rebounds to backstop Carl Tamayo who still managed to contribute nine points and nine rebounds on a bum ankle as Gilas bucked the absences of Ange Kouame and Dave Ildefonso who are both dealing with knee problems.

Sunday’s victory not only makes up for Gilas’ embarrassing rout at the hands of New Zealand three nights ago, but it also sends the Philippines into the next round of the showcase where Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan await.

But before that, the young turks are going to see action in the Fiba Asia Cup which will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, beginning July 12.

Muin Bek Hafeez had 13 points, while Pratap Singh Sekhon and Kumur Muthu Kirshnan added 12 each for India which despite not having won a single match, also makes it to the next round thanks to South Korea’s no-show that led to its disqualification last March.

The Scores:

PHILIPPINES 79 — Ramos 21, Ravena 12, Navarro 11, Tamayo 9, Quiambao 6, Lopez 6, Chiu 5, Abarrientos 5, Belangel 2, Abando 2.

INDIA 63 — Hafeez 13, Sekhon 12, Muthu Krishnan 12, Bhriguvanshi 8, Rawat 7, Goti 7, Aryan 2, Prince 2, Nayak 0, Tomar 0.

Quarters: 21-10, 45-24, 65-44, 79-63.