Dwight Ramos powers Gilas over Mustangs in send-off tune-up game

Gilas Pilipinas showcased their preparedness for the upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament with a convincing 75-65 victory over the Taiwan Mustangs in a send-off friendly game at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Monday, June 24.

Despite missing starting point guard Scottie Thompson, the team struggled in the first half before unleashing a dominant third quarter performance.

Trailing by just three points midway through the third quarter, Gilas turned up the defensive intensity and went on a 17-3 run to take control of the game.

Dwight Ramos seamlessly stepped into Thompson’s role, leading the team with 19 points, including an impressive 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Justin Brownlee also shone for the home team with 12 points and 15 assists.

The frontcourt duo of Kai Sotto and June Mar Fajardo held their own against the Mustangs’ towering center Sam Deguara, with Sotto contributing nine points and nine rebounds while Fajardo added eight points and four steals. Their defensive efforts disrupted Taiwan’s offense and fueled Gilas’ decisive run in the third quarter.

The team’s performance in that pivotal quarter demonstrated their potential when firing on all cylinders, showcasing their ability to dominate both offensively and defensively.

Despite a slow second quarter, Gilas’ resilience and teamwork ultimately led to a convincing victory over a competitive opponent.

For the Taiwan Mustangs, Oscar Lopez stood out with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while former PBA players Alex Cabagnot and Rashawn McCarthy contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Gilas is set to depart for Europe on Tuesday to further their preparations for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The national team is scheduled to face Turkey on June 27 and Poland on June 30 in a series of friendly matches.

The scores:

Gilas Pilipinas 74 – Ramos 19, Brownlee 12, Sotto 9, Fajardo 8, Tamayo 7, Aguilar 6, Oftana 3, Amos 3, Perez 3, Newsome 2, Quiambao 2.

Taiwan Mustangs 64 – Lopez 15, Cabagnot 13, McCarthy 12, Deguara 10, Robinson 5, Miller 4, Borja 3, Yan 2, Chung 0, Chiu 0.

Quarterscores: 25-19, 37-32, 58-44, 74-64.