For the second straight game, Gilas Pilipinas had another bad ending, resulting to a 64-72 loss this time against a bigger, stronger and highly-physical Senegal side in the Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament Friday night.
The Filipinos just couldn’t sustain their good run they established bridging the latter part of the first and early second quarters when Dwight Ramos, Kiefer Ravena and later on, CJ Perez were able to crack the defense of the tougher Senegal side.
But Senegal muscled its way in the fourth period and connected on its perimeter shooting at the time it needed it the most to put away the Philippines and deal Gilas their first loss in the tournament.
The Philippines opened its campaign with. 76-65 win against Iran B, but unlike its opponent from the Middle East, this formidable foe from the African continent gave the Filipinos a dose of what to expect from the FIBA World Cup.
It provided Gilas a taste of African brand of basketball, something they could similarly expect from Angola, one of the teams the Philippines faces in the group stage match.
Aside from Anglola, Gilas will battle Italy and Dominican Republic, two teams bannered by players from the National Basketball Association in Group A.
Gilas return to action against the sane Senegal squad on Sunday at 8 p.m.
