Gilas Pilipinas fends off Korea's LG Sakers in friendly

Gilas Pilipinas survived the LG Sakers of the Korean Basketball League (KBL), 86-81, in a tuneup game before competing in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Justin Brownlee starred with 19 points while June Mar Fajardo had 16 for Gilas Pilipinas. Calvin Oftana, meanwhile, tallied a double-double of 13 points and 11 boards.

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Brownlee and Fajardo were quick to impose their will, churning out 10 points apiece to lead their first half barrage and take a 47-39 lead over the Koreans.

The LG Sakers unleashed a wild third quarter fightback behind Assem Marei as they took the lead, 53-51. Oftana and Scottie Thompson, though, kept Gilas ahead of the visitors before the fourth with a slim 68-67 cushion.

The Koreans outscored the Filipinos in the third, 28 to 21.

Arvin Tolentino, who was among the late replacements to the Gilas Pilipinas lineup, and Brownlee knocked down back-to-back triples for a 76-70 lead before Ange Kouame made it an 84-75 advantage in the final minutes.

Suiting up for Gilas in the friendly game were Brownlee, Fajardo, Kouame, Oftana, Thompson, Tolentino, Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Alas, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, and Chris Ross.

Calvin Abueva, Jason Perkins, Terrence Romeo, and Mo Tautuaa, who were eyed for the Asian Games lineup but were not yet cleared as eligible by the Asian Games organizers, were not included in the tune-up game.

Gilas Pilipinas, which is ranked No. 38 in the world according to the latest FIBA rankings, is aiming to win the gold medal in the Asian Games.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News