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| Gilas went 2-0 in its tune-ups against NZNBL teams ahead of the tall order against the Tall Blacks. Joseph Sanvictores (file photo) |
PASIG—Gilas Pilipinas completed a 2-0 sweep of its tune-up games against NZNBL clubs with a 94-66 blowout win against the Franklin Bulls on Tuesday at the Franklin Pool and Leisure Club in Pukekohe, New Zealand.
Gilas waxed hot immediately at the get-go as they scored 32 points in the first quarter while opening a 13-point lead.
Gilas sustained its brilliance the rest of the way before pulling away by holding Franklin to just nine points in the fourth quarter.
For the second straight time, Justin Brownlee sat out the game, while Mike Phillips, who played in Gilas' Sunday win against the Manawatu Jets, took the day off as well.
Already in the Auckland metropolitan area, Gilas will now go to the city's downtown to take on New Zealand in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers on Friday.
Manawatu star Tai Webster, who was not with the team during the Gilas friendly, will be in the Tall Blacks' lineup against Gilas.
Meanwhile, New Zealand announced that Keanu Rasmussen will don the black-and-white for the team, replacing Mojave King.
