GILAS Pilipinas pulled off a solid performance against USA Select Pro team to score a scary 78-74 victory to start capping its decent finish in the 37th William R. Jones Cup invitational tournament on Saturday at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan.
Calvin Abueva carried the scoring load for the Filipinos with 20 points, but it was the timely baskets of Sonny Thoss in the closing minutes that secured the fifth victory in seven games for the Philppines, which could clinch second place with a win against Taiwan’s training team on Sunday at 1 p.m. Thoss and Gary David added 13 apiece for the Philippines, which almost blew an 18-point lead when the USA Select Team staged a comeback in the final minutes of the contest.
Former Purefoods Star import Marquin Chandler led the Americans with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Cory Bradford added 19 points and 16 boards for the team of Coach Kevin Franklin. For the second straight game, Gilas Head Coach Tab Baldwin rested tournament sensation Terrence Romeo because of a foot injury.
But Abueva was there to lead the offense of the Filipinos, who erected a 51-33 lead early in the third period.
The Americans, who dropped to 2-4 with the loss, threatened at 63-68, before Thoss hit three straight jumpers to give Gilas a 74-66 cushion with 1:23 remaining. Dondon Hontiveros, the hero in 92-88 overtime win over Wellington Saints of New Zealand last Friday, sealed the victory with two free throws, 76-71, with 2.3 ticks left. Iran clinched the Jones Cup crown after beating Russia’s club team, 78-54, for a tournament-best 7-1 record.