Korea outshoots Gilas Pilipinas

TAIPEI – Gilas Pilipinas suffered a crucial offensive breakdown in the fourth quarter and went down in defeat to old nemesis South Korea, 70-82, in Day Three of the 2015 Jones Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament at the Xinchuang Gymnasium here last night.

Coming off a 77-69 win over the home team, the Nationals engaged the Koreans in an exciting, seesawing game before hitting the wall, going on a five-minute scoreless spell in the fourth quarter to yield the contest.

The Koreans ran a 13-to-nothing attack to pound the Gilas breakdown, taking command at 69-58 and holding on to break into the win-column following back-to-back losses to Iran and Spartak-Primorye of Russia.

The Iranians and the Russians kept their perfect runs, nailing win No. 3 versus Japan and the Wellington Saints of New Zealand, respectively.

Iran, featuring 7-foot-2 behemoth Hamed Haddadi and rock-solid playmaker Mahdi Kamrani, routed Japan, 78-57, while Spartak-Primorye outlasted New Zealand, 98-94, in a gripping battle.

More cohesive and fluid in their third game here, the Koreans repeated their conquest of the Filipinos in their Asian Games showdown in Incheon last year.

It was easier for the Koreans here with the Filipinos self-destructing in the payoff period.

“I just think our defense wasn’t good. Offensively, we didn’t have a good flow. Too individual and that’s something we have to work on,” said Gilas coach Tab Baldwin.

“We’re more aggressive today. It’s our third game here and we’re getting better and better. Our confidence-level is good,” said Korean naturalized player Moon Tae-young.

During the customary handshake at endgame, Baldwin couldn’t help mentioning a piece to his Korean counterpart about Lee Jonghyun going for a three-pointer in the closing seconds with the outcome of the game settled.

“I know it’s kind of impolite, but my player (Lee) was not shooting well and maybe wanted to get rhythm,” said Korean coach Kim Dongkwan.

In great groove but not getting the needed support from his teammates was Terrence Romeo.

The Globalport hotshot went three-of-four from the arc and struck on acrobatic layups to highlight a game-high 23-point explosion following an 18-point Jones Cup debut against the home team Sunday. His biggest highlight play was a floater off 7-foot-3 Korean center Ha Seungjin that sent the fans up on their feet.

Gary David also fired three treys and finished with 16 markers but no other Gilas player hit a double-figure output.

The Filipinos were held to 16 points in the fourth canto – all courtesy of Romeo and Calvin Abueva.

Gilas was still ahead, 58-56, before going scoreless for nearly five minutes.