By Ivan Saldajeno
PASAY--Gilas Pilipinas failed to sustain a hot start and bowed to France, 84-93, at the start of their respective FIBA OQT campaigns at the Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday night.
The Frenchmen, tagged as favorites to not just finish first in Group B but to win it all as well, took the lead for good after a luge late second quarter run before holding off a late Gilas rally to inch closer to a spot in the Rio Olympics next month.
With the raucous crowd behind them, Gilas went off to a hot start, taking a ten-point lead, 28-18, late in the first quarter and would hold on to the said edge for most of the first half.
But a 14-2 run pushed France ahead, 45-41, before conceding a Terrence Romeo jumper at the halftime horn to settle for a 45-43 cushion.
France then looked to pull away, opening 13-point advantages at some points of the second half, the last at 79-66 with 9:37 left in the game.
But Gilas went on a 15-6 blitz to come to within four, 81-85, with 3:16 remaining.
That turned out to be Gilas' last stand as an 8-0 run by France sealed both teams' fate.
Nando De Colo fired 27 points along with six rebounds, two assists, and three steals, while Tony Parker bucked a slow start and finished with 21 points, four rebounds, six assists, and one steal for France, which can seal the top seed in Group B against New Zealand on Thursday night.
Andray Blatche had 21 points eight rebounds, one block, and three steals for Gilas, which needs to beat New Zealand on Wednesday night to stay alive in the hunt for their first men's Olympic basketball stint since 1972.
Box Scores:
France 93-De Colo 27, Parker 21, Tillie 10, Lauvergne 10, Diaw 9, Gelabale 8, Diot 4, Kahudi 2, Heurtel 2, Pietrus 0, Moerman 0
Philippines 84-Blatche 21, Romeo 19, Castro 14, Chan 9, Rosario 6, Norwood 4, De Ocampo 3, Parks 3, Reyes 3, Pingris 2, Fajardo 0
Quarterscores: 22-30, 45-43, 77-66, 93-84
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