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| Brazil survived Gilas' upset bid. FIBA |
MANILA--Gilas Pilipinas came short of a major upset on Monday as Brazil barely escaped with a 77-74 win at the start of the FIBA Women's World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament at the Kigali Arena in Rwanda.
Aline Moura basically won it for world number eight Brazil after scoring a free throw with 20 seconds left that broke a 74-all tie.
Moura, who had to play the rest of the way after Leticia Soares fouled out with 1:30 remaining, split her charities off an Afril Bernardino foul to give Brazil a 75-74 lead.
Khate Castillo, who waxed hot earlier in the game, tried to give world number 40 Gilas the lead, but her wide-open corner three just hit the rim.
Caca Martins made two more free throws with 1.8 seconds left to give Brazil some cushion, while the team's defense forced Castillo to attempt her buzzer-beating three from the logo, which hit nothing.
Soares led Brazil with 15 points, five rebounds, and one assist, while Emanuely De Oliveira added 13 points, three rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Jack Animam's monster game of 18 points, 21 rebounds, one assist, four blocks, and one steal went for naught as Gilas, who opted to go small ball for the pre-qualifiers, only hit 6-for-25 from deep and 10-for-19 from the foul line.
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