Justin Brownlee goes up for a twinner in this bit of action (GMA Network photo courtesy)
Gilas Pilipinas suffered a setback in a tune-up game against Lithuania, falling to their opponents with a final score of 90-80 in Kausas, Lithuania. Despite a slow start, the Philippine team displayed resilience throughout the match.
During the opening period, Gilas struggled defensively, allowing Lithuania to score 36 points and establish a 17-point lead. Lithuanian forward Tomas Zdanavicius proved to be a significant challenge for Gilas, showcasing his accuracy from beyond the arc by making all six of his three-point attempts in the first half, amassing a total of 20 points.
At halftime, the Lithuania Selection squad held a 56-45 advantage. Throughout the game, Gilas faced difficulties with their shooting, while Lithuania capitalized on their outside shooting, hitting 12 three-pointers. Gilas had a field goal percentage of just 39.7% and were outrebounded 46-39. Lithuanian League Most Valuable Player Vytautas Šulskis contributed 19 points and nine rebounds to the Lithuanian team’s performance.
Zdanavicius led the Lithuanian Selection with 25 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Justinas Ramanauskas nearly achieved a double-double with 12 points, nine assists, and three rebounds. Rokas Pocius added 10 points and nine rebounds for the host team, which had only eight players available.
Gilas’ top performers were naturalized player Justin Brownlee with 20 points and seven rebounds, Jamie Malonzo with 14 points and nine rebounds, and June Mar Fajardo and Kiefer Ravena contributing 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Ange Kouame made his return to the Gilas lineup after attending his college graduation from Ateneo on June 30. He played just over six minutes and scored four points in the game.
(ai/mnm)
