Gilas Pilipinas edges Taiwan Mustangs in friendly match ahead of OQT

Gilas Pilipinas used a huge third quarter to put away the Taiwan Mustangs, 74-64, in a send-off friendly match on Monday at the PhilSports Arena.

The exhibition game is part of the nationals’ final build-up for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament set early next month in Latvia.

The Filipinos turned a slim 37-32 halftime lead to a 17-point cushion in the third frame after Justin Brownlee unloaded back-to-back triples followed by a fastbreak layup from Dwight Ramos against the defense of 7-foot-6 Samuel Deguara as the hosts cruised to a 58-41 lead.

Rashawn McCarthy, who once saw action for Terrafirma in the PBA, then buried his own triple to cut Mustangs’ deficit to just 14 ahead of the fourth.

Taiwan, though, mounted a fightback with Ben Borja and Tevis Robinson conniving for two consecutive three-pointers, 58-50.

But Gilas held on as Ramos and Mason Amos sank their long bombs to send Gilas to a 70-56 cushion.

Ramos top-scored Gilas with 19 points on a stellar 80-percent shooting percentage from downtown while also grabbing three rebounds and four steals.

Justin Brownlee poured in double-double effort of 12 markers and 15 dimes on top of five rebounds, three steals, and one block for an all-around outing while Kai Sotto held his own and chipped in nine points, nine rebounds, and two assists.

Oscar Lopez paced Taiwan with 15 points, nine rebounds, and two assists while Deguara posted double-double of 10 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, and one rejection.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News