Jay R. Gotera
MANILA — In their first tune-up match outside the Philippines, the new Gilas Pilipinas team got a sampling of the tough competition that awaits them in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila three weeks from now as they suffered a 35-point loss to Turkey, 103-68, Wednesday at the Abdi Ipekci Arena in Istanbul.
The Filipinos could not match the firepower of the streak-shooting Turkish national squad, which is ranked eighth best in the world. The Turks, led by back-up wingman Birzan Batuk, raced to a 30-19 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.
Turkey ended the first half with a 25-point lead, 57-32, with Batuk already collecting 22 points, including a sizzling 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the three-point arc.
After scoring just two points in the first half, Jayson Castro caught fire in the third quarter scoring 13 markers. But this was not enough to dent Turkey’s huge lead which increased further to 30 points, 69-39, on a dunk by former NBA player Semih Erden.
Andray Blatche led Gilas Pilipinas with 21 points while Castro finished with 15 markers.
Calvin Abueva and Jeff Chan scored eight points apiece, LA Tenorio added six while Ray Parks chipped in four.
Turkey is among the teams bracketed with the Philippines in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila set to begin on July 5. The Turkish team is set to fly to the Philippine capital before then and collide with Gilas Pilipinas in a second tune-up match on July 1. Gilas came from a nine-day training camp in the mountains of Kapernisi, Greece prior to their trip to Istanbul.
The team leaves for Bologna, Italy Thursday to compete in a four-nation pocket tournament to be joined by the host country, Canada, and China.
On Saturday, June 25, Gilas face Italy in the first day of the pocket tournament, while Canada takes on China.
If they beat the Italians, the Filipinos then take on the winner of the Canada-China match, or the loser if they lose to Italy.
On June 27, Gilas head back to Manila and are expected to arrive the next day.
Then on July 5, Gilas take on France in the first game of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
