Sports

Gilas Pilipinas Falls to Korea, Misses Out on Podium Finish

Korea once again demonstrated exceptional shooting from the three-point line at the expense of Gilas Pilipinas. The Philippines lost to Korea 82-91 on Monday and has bowed out of the medal race in the 2018 Asian Games. So far, the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup and 2007 Jones Cup Gilas teams were the only ones who were able to achieve success against Korea.

The first three quarters of the game were close, with the Philippines up just by one point, 65-64 entering the fourth. In the final quarter, however, crucial turnovers and missed shots by Gilas Pilipinas gave their opponents a chance to pull away. Korea’s scrappy offensive rebounding was also a big factor since they were also able to convert their extra possessions to deadly three-pointers. Four of the 12 threes they made came in the last seven minutes of the game.

Former PBA import and Korea’s naturalized player Ricardo Ratliffe was practically unstoppable, finishing with a double-double: 30 points and 15 rebounds. He was in foul trouble in the first half with three fouls, but was able to keep himself in the game and terrorize Gilas’ front court. Heo Ilyoung and Kim Sunhyung also contributed 17 points apiece for the South Korean team.

Gilas Head Coach Yeng Guiao later on admitted that the game plan was to keep a single coverage on Ratliffe while the other players stay home on Korea’s shooters. The plan worked up until the fourth quarter. In fact, Korea was five out of 16 from downtown in the first half.

On Gilas Pilipinas’ side, Jordan Clarkson provided another stellar third quarter getting 15 of his 25 points. He was able to hit four three-pointers in the third period after going just two out of 12 in the first half. His first win in the Asian Games wearing a Gilas uniform so far remains elusive.

Christian Standhardinger, whose main task was to defend Ricardo Ratliffe, was able to chip in 16 points off the bench. Both Stanley Pringle and Paul Lee finished with 14 and 11 points respectively for the Philippines.

Having lost to Korea, the Philippines is looking to surpass their seventh-place finish in the last Asian Games in Incheon in 2014 by aiming for a fifth-place finish. Their next game is against Japan.

Korea, on the other hand, moves on to the next round and will face Iran.

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