THE PHILIPPINES continues its three-game slide after succumbing to Italy at the 2023 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Basketball World Cup, 83-90. Despite coming off strong at the onset of the bout, Italy’s steady gambits proved to be an ultimate backbreaker for the Philippines at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
In the wake of this defeat, Gilas Pilipinas dropped to a 0-3 win-loss record in Group A, while Italy improved to a 2-1 record.
Jordan Clarkson once again erupted with a total of 23 points, six assists, and seven rebounds. Following suit is Dwight Ramos and Roger Pogoy who provided support with a total of 14 points and nine points respectively.
The opening of the bout kicked off with back-and-forth action from both teams. While Kai Sotto and Clarkson’s early runs to the rim propelled the Philippines with a boost of momentum, Italy honed in on maximizing their efforts from beyond the arc.
Heavily influenced by Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio, the first few minutes of the canto worked in favor of the Azzurri as their effective execution of fast breaks and successful conversions from the paint allowed them to establish an early lead on the scoreboard. However, Pogoy’s expert marksmanship in his long-range shots gave Gilas a chance to take their first lead in the game, 13-12. Following a buzzer-beating shot from June Mar Fajardo in the dwindling seconds of the quarter, Gilas then earned a slim 23-20 advantage over their adversaries.
Echoing from their previous matches, Gilas continued to struggle with their occasional lapses and costly turnovers in the second quarter. Fighting tooth and nail to fill in the gaps left by the Azzurri squad, Jamie Malonzo and Rhenz Abando made plays as they struggled to regain control back in Gilas’s favor. However, as Italy mounted a resilient defense and potent offensive strategies, the Philippines found themselves facing an uphill battle with a 9-point deficit to end the first half, 39-48.
Italy continued to maintain an advantageous position in the second half of the match as they carefully laid down their cards. The combination of Italy’s steadfast defensive pressure and effective strategies created a challenging environment for Gilas to surmount.
Nonetheless, AJ Edu’s adeptness at capitalizing on easy scoring opportunities played a crucial role in narrowing the score gap to 53-64. Despite this positive turn, Italy showcased their strategic finesse through rapid passes and precise shooting, which granted them the commanding lead at the end of the quarter, 73-60.
Heading onto the final frame of the match, Gilas continued to struggle with oversights and blunders that granted their opponents more chances to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Although a breakthrough in Kiefer Ravena’s performance in the final canto brought a spark of hope on the hardwood, it was ultimately cut short as the Azzurri closed off the match to their advantage, 90-83.
Moving forward, this loss eliminated the team from the medal contention, but presented Gilas with a challenge to bounce back for a highly coveted ticket in the 2024 Olympics.
Box Scores:
Philippines (83): Clarkson-23, Ramos-14, Pogoy-9, Abando-8, Edu-8, Ravena-8, Malonzo-7, Fajardo-4, Sotto-2
Italy (90): Fontecchio-18, Ricci-14, Spissu-13, Tonut-13, Melli-10, Pajola-11, Polonara-6, Datome-5
Quarter Scores:
Philippines-Italy: 23-20, 39-48, 60-73, 83-90
