Gilas bombs Kuwait, goes to 2nd rd with 1-1 card

MANILA, Philippines -- Gilas Pilipinas bucked a slow start to score its second lopsided victory,110-64, and booted out Kuwait Friday in the 2015 FIBA Asia Men's Championship at Changsha Social Work College Gymnasium in Hunan, China.

Gilas broke away from a tight start where Kuwait last led at 7-6 as the Filipinos tightened up the screws on defense.

Kuwait was held scoreless for 10 minutes bridging the first and second quarter as Gilas transformed an 18-11 lead to a huge 44-11 bubble near halftime.

Gilas though let its guard down briefly allowing Kuwait to make a mini rally rattling an 11-2 run to chop the lead, 46-22, before settling to a 28-point halftime lead, 55-27.

The top three teams in each group will enter the next round carrying their record against the teams in their group that also advanced. All their wins or losses against those eliminated will not be carried over.

Gilas will play Iran, Japan and India, not necessarily in that order, in the second round carrying over its 1-1 win-loss record.

Terrence Romeo exploded for 19 points while Jayson Castro added 16 points as Gilas followed up its 51-point whipping of Hong Kong with another easy rout.

Gilas shot 56.2 percent and again dominated the boards, 52-26.

A near melee broke out when Abdul Almahidi tried to go after Ranidel de Ocampo for a wayward elbow that ran smack to his lips.

Almahidi was seen in the video replay giving De Ocampo a low blow prior to the non-call, which blew the Kuwaiti's top. But cooler heads intervened as Gilas went to the next round bringing the momentum of two straight wins following a 73-75 upset loss to Palestine in the opener.

Calvin Abueva and Jc Intal also chipped in 10 points apiece while three more Gilas players added eight each.

The tournament will take a break on Saturday.  The second round begins on Sunday.