Gilas hits end of road, crumbles against New Zealand

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas ran smack against a super solid New Zealand side and went in shambles, suffering an 80-89 defeat that eliminated the host team from further contention in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the MOA Arena Wednesday night.

Without a real threat in the post but packed with prolific guards and deadly gunners, the Kiwis frustrated Andray Blatche, his Gilas teammates and the home crowd, pulling off the win that automatically sent France and New Zealand to the semifinals of the short six-day meet.

Gilas hit the end of the road while France’s Les Bleus and New Zealand’s Tall Blacks merely fight for spots in the semis as they collide at 9 p.m. tonight at the same Pasay City playing venue.

Earlier in the night, Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph and his Team Canada teammates outlasted Senegal in a close encounter, carving out a 58-55 win to advance to the crossover knockout semifinals.

The Canadians used quickness and better court savvy to buck the Senegalese’ size advantage and complete a sweep in Group A play following a 77-69 triumph over Turkey on opening night.

Senegal and Turkey dispute the other semis spot from Group A in a do-or-die duel at 6:30 p.m. tonight.

“New Zealand is a tough basketball team, and it’s difficult to compete with them. We didn’t play well and it’s on us,” said Gilas coach Tab Baldwin in their sorry loss to the Kiwis.

“We have to sit back, analyze and see what happens. Congrats to New Zealand,” Baldwin also said.

Brothers Tai Jack and Corey Webster, Isaac Fotu and Thomas Abercrombie made at least 13 points each, being at the scoring end of a superb New Zealand game marked by great movement and crisp passing with hardly a tentativeness.

With a near flawless game, the Tall Blacks seized control early and were in command almost throughout of the game, leading by 13 points twice midway through the third period.

From 10 points down at 50-60, Gilas waged a chase, twice coming to within two points at 58-60 and 60-62 largely behind the efforts of Blatche.

But as Blatche sat down briefly to have a scratch on his hands attended, the Tall Blacks wasted no time to make a killing, unloading six crucial, unanswered points to regain full control at 78-65 entering the last two minutes of the game.

Blatche struggled for four points in the first half before getting into the groove, piling up 26 points in the second half.

Gilas as a team couldn’t keep up with New Zealand’s swashbuckling game.  

Gilas got off to a shaky start, missing layups, committing more turnovers and yielding more charities as the Nationals trailed, 31-38, at the half.

Pouncing on the numerous Gilas lapses were the Webster brothers who combined for 21 points, including 6-of-6 charities in the first 20 minutes of the game.

The Nationals stayed in the game in the first two quarters on 5-of-6 three-pointers by Jayson Castro and Chan.