Gilas, Lebanese face off; Aussies dethrone Chinese

MANILA, Philippines - Out of the Final Four, Gilas Pilipinas tries to salvage some measure of pride in the consolation round as it faces host Lebanon even as Oceania giants Australia and New Zealand clash in one of the semifinal pairings in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Beirut today.

The Boomers of Australia and the Tall Blacks of New Zealand took the last semis berth by routing China and Jordan, respectively, Thursday night.

Australia clobbered China, 97-71, while New Zealand smothered Jordan, 98-70, to join three-time champ Iran and two-time ruler South Korea in the Final Four of the tourney where Gilas was relegated to the consolation round following a crushing 86-118 blowout by the Koreans in the quarters on Wednesday.

Iran and Korea dispute the other final slot.

The Filipinos, the Lebanese, the Jordanians and the Chinese fight for fifth to eighth spots in the closing weekend matches of the 12-day, 16-nation meet.

Jordan takes on China in the other consolation round match.

It will be the Philippines’ worst finish in the last four editions of the meet after placing fourth in Wuhan in 2011, second in Manila in 2013 and once again second in Changsha in 2015.

Gunners Jason Cadee, Daniel Kickert and Mitchell McCarron fired at least three triples each and combined for a total of 43 points as the Aussies dethroned the Chinese.

Li Gen and Guo Ailun scored 19 and 13 points, respectively, to pace the losing side.