Gilas third in Malaga tilt

Nationals notch 3 wins, 1 loss in Spain training

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas capped its Spanish trip with a 73-63 disposal of Ivory Coast to take home third place in the four-nation Torneo de Malaga Saturday in Spain (early yesterday in Manila). 

Robert Bolick waxed hot with 19 points with seven rebounds and Andray Blatche posted 18-18 with four assists and three steals as Gilas gave a bright ending to its 10-day training camp in its buildup for the FIBA World Cup.

Japeth Aguilar and Paul Lee chipped in nine apiece in the bounceback victory from their 71-82 loss to Congo the night before.

Gilas seized control against Ivory with a 12-5 run in the second quarter, giving itself a 36-25 upper hand, and stayed ahead all the way through.

Ivory Coast managed to come to within five at 63-68 before Gilas dashed its rivals’ late rally with cold-blooded charities by Blatche and a three-point play by Bolick.

It was a repeat W for Gilas over the Ivorians, having been victorious as well in an earlier tuneup game over in Guadalajara, 94-83.

Overall, coach Yeng Guiao and his charges chalked up three wins and a single loss in this camp in Spain. They swept their two friendlies in Guadalajara over Congo (102-82) and Ivory Coast before a setback to the Congolese at the start of the Malaga cagefest.

The Pinoy cagers are expected to return home tomorrow for the final stretch of their preparations for the Aug. 31 World Cup in China. 

The Gilas pool members currently seeing action for TNT and San Miguel are expected to rejoin the squad after the Commissioner’s Cup finals then the China-bound squad will play Aussie club Adelaide 36ers on Aug. 23 and 25 at the Meralco Gym.