Canada opens Philippine OQT with win over Turkey

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY--Canada started the Philippine leg of the FIBA OQT with a hard fought 77-69 victory over Turkey at the Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday night.

Tagged as favorites to rule Group A in the competition's group stages, the Canadians rode behind the hot hands of Cory Joseph before holding off a gallant stand from the Turkish side in the end.

Joseph scored 11 of his game-high 21 points in the third quarter to help Canada open a 50-34 lead.

Turkey tried to keep the game interesting as Melih Mahmutoglu fired three straight triples to help them come to within six, but that turned out to be their last gasp.

Tristan Thompson struggled in his first game since winning an NBA title for Cleveland but still finished with ten points, six rebounds, and three assists for Canada, who will face Senegal on Wednesday night.

All of the players Coach Jay Triano scored at least four points.

Sinan Guler led Turkey, which will need to beat Senegal on Thursday to salvage their OQT hopes, with 14 points, one rebound, three assists, and three steals.

Turkey's naturalized player Bobby Dixon was limited to only one point in what Coach Ergin Ataman thought was "the worst game of his career," while New Orleans Pelican Omer Asik only had four.

Box Scores:

Canada 77-Joseph 21, Thompson 10, P. Scrubb 10, T. Scrubb 9, Ejim 7, Hesip 6, Ennis 6, Bennett 4, Birch 4

Turkey 69-Guler 14, Osman 10, Mahmutoglu 9, Erden 8, Batuk 8, Savas 7, Geyik 4, Asik 4, Sipahi 2, Korkmaz 2, Dixon 1, Arslan 0

Quarterscores: 21-17, 39-30, 59-47, 77-69

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