The Gilas Pilipinas suffered its worst loss in the team’s short but storied history after it got beat down by the hot-shooting Ukraine, 64-114, in the 2014 Antibes Basketball Tournament at the Azur Arena in Antibes, France.
With naturalized center Andray Blatche and top guard Paul Lee being given rest to recuperate from various injuries and Ukraine suddenly finding its touch from beyond the three-point arc resulting in 19 made triples, the Gilas limped to the close of the tournament as it ended its campaign without a win.
The Nationals were within five after the opening period but suddenly got buried in the ensuing canto where they got outscored, 19-40. The second half was no different as they continued to get blasted, 29-53, paving the way for the lopsided loss.
The Gilas actually started the competition on a promising note, falling to top-ranked France by just seven points, 68-75.
But the Nationals started to lose gas in their next game, which they lost to Australia, 75-97.
Ranidel de Ocampo paced the Gilas with 11 points while Jeff Chan added 10. The team’s resident import, Marcus Douthit, who replaced Blatche for this game, struggled and ended up with just five points.
Ukraine, which was coached by NBA veteran coach Mike Fratello, got 16 from Oleksander Lypovvy.
The Gilas forges on with its preparations for the FIBA World Cup as it takes on the Basque Country autonomous basketball team in Polideportivo J.A. Gasca, San Sebastián.
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