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| photo (c) Dante Peralta |
GILAS Pilipinas failed to sustain its gains as it bowed to Iceland, 86-76, for its third straight loss in the Toyota Four Nations Cup on Saturday night at the Saku Suurhall Arena in Talinn.
The nationals held a seven-point lead in the third quarter, but were unable to protect it as they wound up winless in the three-day pocket tournament in Estonia.
Terrence Romeo emerged as one of Gilas’ scoring leaders, highlighting his offensive night with a three-pointer that capped a 10-0 blast that pulled the team to within five points, 43-38, at halftime.
Calvin Abueva, who played in the first two games, sat out this time due to back pain, as he joined veterans Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo on the bench.
The team earlier lost to the Netherlands, 89-62, and Estonia, 90-80.
The four-national pocket tournament served as part of Gilas’ training and preparation for the Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship slated in Changsha, China from Sept. 23 to Oct. 3.
The Nationals along with the coaching staff led by Tab Baldwin, leave for Manila on Sunday afternoon and are expected to arrive on Monday night.
Gilas Pilipinas will just take a few days rest and then leave again for Chinese Taipei to compete in the annual Jones Cup.
Source: Karlo Sacamos of Spin.ph