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Gilas Pilipinas Suffers Another Setback, Falls To South Sudan In FIBA World Cup Classification Match
Photo credit: SBP
In a disappointing turn of events, Gilas Pilipinas continued their losing streak in the FIBA World Cup, facing defeat at the hands of a formidable South Sudan team with a final score of 87-68. The game took place on Thursday (August 31,2023) night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, leaving Filipino basketball fans disheartened.
Despite their relentless efforts, the Nationals found the Bright Stars of South Sudan to be a formidable opponent, possibly even tougher than their previous adversaries in the tournament's first round. This loss significantly dims their hopes of securing a spot in the Paris Olympics.
With a record of 0-4, Coach Chot Reyes and his squad have one last chance to secure a victory in the classification phase when they face their Asian rival, China, on Saturday (September 2,2023).
South Sudan, making its World Cup debut, proved to be a quicker and deadlier team when it came to open shots. Their performance dashed the Filipinos' dreams of achieving Asian top honors. Coach Royal Ivey, alongside assistant coach Luol Deng and their team, strengthened their position in the African race with this impressive victory.
To add to the woes of Gilas Pilipinas, both China and Lebanon secured breakthrough wins. China defeated Angola with a final score of 83-76 at the Big Dome, while Lebanon dominated their match against Cote d'Ivoire with a score of 94-84 in Jakarta.
Meanwhile, Japan was also competing for their second win against Venezuela in Okinawa.
Although Gilas Pilipinas made a valiant effort to stage a comeback, narrowing the gap to just four points at 56-60 after being down by 18 points at halftime, the South Sudanese team showcased their resilience and secured a strong finish to maintain their lead.
Carlik Jones, a Chicago Bulls guard, proved to be a major obstacle for Gilas with his exceptional all-around performance, which fueled South Sudan's decisive 20-7 run towards the end of the game.
Other key contributors to the South Sudanese victory included the 6'9" forward Nuni Omot, the 7'1" center Khaman Madit Maluach, and sharpshooter Majok Deng. On the Philippine side, Dwight Ramos played a crucial role in the second-half comeback with his accurate outside shooting.
Despite their efforts to rally, Gilas Pilipinas ultimately couldn't overcome the determined South Sudanese team, resulting in another setback in their FIBA World Cup journey.
Despite their relentless efforts, the Nationals found the Bright Stars of South Sudan to be a formidable opponent, possibly even tougher than their previous adversaries in the tournament's first round. This loss significantly dims their hopes of securing a spot in the Paris Olympics.
With a record of 0-4, Coach Chot Reyes and his squad have one last chance to secure a victory in the classification phase when they face their Asian rival, China, on Saturday (September 2,2023).
South Sudan, making its World Cup debut, proved to be a quicker and deadlier team when it came to open shots. Their performance dashed the Filipinos' dreams of achieving Asian top honors. Coach Royal Ivey, alongside assistant coach Luol Deng and their team, strengthened their position in the African race with this impressive victory.
To add to the woes of Gilas Pilipinas, both China and Lebanon secured breakthrough wins. China defeated Angola with a final score of 83-76 at the Big Dome, while Lebanon dominated their match against Cote d'Ivoire with a score of 94-84 in Jakarta.
Meanwhile, Japan was also competing for their second win against Venezuela in Okinawa.
Although Gilas Pilipinas made a valiant effort to stage a comeback, narrowing the gap to just four points at 56-60 after being down by 18 points at halftime, the South Sudanese team showcased their resilience and secured a strong finish to maintain their lead.
Carlik Jones, a Chicago Bulls guard, proved to be a major obstacle for Gilas with his exceptional all-around performance, which fueled South Sudan's decisive 20-7 run towards the end of the game.
Other key contributors to the South Sudanese victory included the 6'9" forward Nuni Omot, the 7'1" center Khaman Madit Maluach, and sharpshooter Majok Deng. On the Philippine side, Dwight Ramos played a crucial role in the second-half comeback with his accurate outside shooting.
Despite their efforts to rally, Gilas Pilipinas ultimately couldn't overcome the determined South Sudanese team, resulting in another setback in their FIBA World Cup journey.
Sep 1, 2023
