RP Lhuillier bows to Sokor, suffers 5th loss

The Philippines continued receiving lessons in basketball at the Jones Cup as RP Cebuana Lhuillier folded up to the sweet-shooting South Koreans, 83-65, in a game that was decided in the third quarter.

Julian Kim scored the first 10 points for the Koreans at the start of the game as they took an early 13-1 lead until the Filipinos got their bearing and closed the gap to 8-15. The Koreans however exploded anew with a 13-4 run to finish the first quarter ahead by 14 points, 28-12.

RP Cebuana Lhuillier crept to within four points late in the second quarter, 29-33, with PBA players Omanzie Rodriguez and Jean Marc Pingris at the forefront, but again allowed the Koreans another strong finish to take a 45-33 halftime lead.

The third quarter resolved the issue as the Korean defense shut down the Philippine offense for more than seven minutes as the Southe Koreans raced to a 61-37 advantage.

By the time the last quarter started, the game’s conclusion was a given and as it was, the Philippines absorbed its third straight loss at the hands of the Koreans. Overall, RP Cebuana Lhuillier absorbed its fifth loss in six games, its only win coming at the expense of cellar dweller Germany.

The Filipinos will still face two strong teams for their final games.

They play Canada on Saturday and wind up their experience-gaining stint at the Jones Cup against the tall Qatar men’s team.