Gilas rips US fives in tuneup matches

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas, with naturalized center Andray Blatche plunging into action for the first time, took care of business and stamped its class on American selections in a pair of tune-up matches over the weekend in Miami.

The 6-11 Blatche easily blended with his Filipino teammates, joining forces with big men June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar in powering the Fiba World Cup-bound Phl five to an emphatic 95-74 rout of Miami Pro-Am Selection Saturday.

The Pinoy cagers went up against a tougher opponent the next day in Elev8 Sports Institute, which is bannered by four NBA D-League players, and passed what coach Chot Reyes described as “the real test” with a 93-84 victory. 

At home with the dribble-drive offense of Gilas, Blatche fired 12 points against the Miami Pro-Am and flashed his passing skills by feeding his open teammates on several occasions as Gilas took control.

Reigning PBA MVP Fajardo banged in 16 markers, doing the most damage in the second half where Gilas pulled away for good while Aguilar soared to highlight reel dunks off pick-and-rolls at endgame to put the finishing touches to the lopsided win over a Miami team that paraded Talk n Text forward-center Rob Reyes.

“I’m satisfied with the way we played tonight, gentlemen. But expect a tougher game against a team with three 6-10 players (Elev8). That will be the real test,” coach Chot Reyes told the team after Saturday’s game.

Coached by Cody Toppert, Elev8 paraded some NBA D-League and NCAA players like Cameron Bell, Donnavan Kirk, Kenny Kadji, Tola Akumalaf, George Naldjieff, Waverly Austin, Khyle Marshall, Ivan Aska, Drew Smith, Brian Asbury and Frank Gaines.