Gilas Pilipinas bounces back with blowout win over Lithuania in last Euro tuneup
Gilas Pilipinas vs Lithuania Universiade team in a tune-up game. –SBP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas bounced back big time on Saturday, blowing out a young Lithuania side, 125-102, in Lithuania.
Gilas banked on a strong second half effort behind Justin Brownlee to redeem itself from a 90-80 loss to a different Lithuania team on Wedneday.
Brownlee scored 15 of his 24 points in the last two quarters including 11 in the pivotal third where Gilas outscored Lithuania, 27-10, to turn a two-point deficit into a 98-73 lead.
Clicking on both ends, Gilas led by as many as 30 points.
June Mar Fajardo set the tone with 18 of his game-high 28 coming in the first half.
Fajardo was a handful for Lithuania, missing only two of his nine attempts from the field and going 14-of-15 from the free throw line.
Kiefer Ravena also put up solid numbers with 18 points, highlighted by three triples, and six rebounds.
Gilas found its mark from the outside this time, hitting 12-of-25 from deep after a cold 7-of-23 clip in the first encounter.
The game was Gilas’ sixth and last tune-up match against European sides since holding camp in Europe as part of its buildup for the upcoming Fiba World Cup. The Nationals went 3-3 in the scrimmages.
