MANILA – Samjosef Belangel drilled a game-winning triple as Gilas Pilipinas pulled off an 81-78 stunner over South Korea in the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers last night at the AUF Gym in Clark, Pampanga.
With the score tied at 78-all following a triple shot by South Korea’s Lee Hyunjung, Bacolodnon Belangel surged the national men’s basketball team ahead for good with his fall-away three-pointer at the buzzer.
Belangel finished the match with 13 points – nine of which came in the fourth quarter. With the victory, Gilas formalized its qualification to the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup after climbing to a 4-0 slate in Group A.
Dwight Ramos top-scored with 16 points, while Angelo Kouame added 12 markers, including three outside hits for Gilas. On the other hand, Kai Sotto and Carl Tamayo got 11 and 10 points, respectively.
South Korea jumped to a 6-0 start, but Gilas Pilipinas evened the gap via Ramos’ six straight points.
However, the Korean team took advantage of the Philippines’ miscues to end the quarter with a 21-12 hold.
South Korea continued its rampage in the second period to establish a 17-point lead, which prompted Gilas to rally behind Sotto and Rhon Jhay Abarrientos to score 36-44 at the half.
In the third canto, consecutive triples by Kouame and baskets from Ramos and George Isaac Go earned Gilas a 54-52 lead, but South Korea tallied 57-56 on a three-point shot.
The Philippines notched a 68-64 lead on baskets by Belangel and Tamayo. However, South Korea countered it with a 75-70 advantage with over two minutes left.
Gilas banked on free throws by Ramos and Tamayo and inside hits by Belangel and Kouame to take a 78-75 lead with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Koreans forced a 78-all deadlock behind Lee’s triple with over two seconds left.
Ricardo Ratliffe posted a double-double of 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Lee chipped in 15 markers and three triples, as South Korea tasted its first loss in the three matches./PN
