MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas kicked off their campaign in the Second International Friendly Basketball Championship with a bang, securing a dramatic 74-71 victory over host nation Qatar in Doha on early Saturday (Manila time).
The Philippine team displayed a well-rounded offensive performance, spearheaded by Dwight Ramos, who contributed 15 points, two rebounds, and two assists.
Meanwhile, eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo helped anchor the defense while adding 12 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Naturalized player Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson also played pivotal roles, each scoring 10 points in the hard-fought win.
Gilas Pilipinas will have a brief break before returning to action on Saturday night, facing Lebanon at 6 p.m. local time (11 p.m. Manila time).
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