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| Adrian Nocum and Gilas finally won a game in the Asian Games. Asian Games (file photo) |
QUEZON CITY—Gilas Pilipinas scored its first win in the Asian Games men's 5x5 basketball event after drubbing Kazakhstan 109-78 on Saturday night at the IG Arena in Nagoya.
One day after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Bahrain, Gilas vented its ire on Kazakhstan early on, opening the game on an 11-0 run.
Kazakhstan somehow finished the first quarter strong and cut the lead down to three 18-15 at the end of the period.
Gilas, though, pulled away again in the second quarter and eventually completed the blowout with a 27-12 fourth quarter.
Jerrick Ahanmisi and Robert Bolick, who were non-factors against Bahrain, exploded for 22 and 20 points, respectively to lead Gilas, now 1-1 in Group C.
Both long-range specialists caught fire from 22 feet out with Ahanmisi going 7-for-11 and Bolick going 4-for-6 on threes.
With a plus-27 point difference, Gilas, the defending champion, is on track of qualifying for the quarterfinals as one of the best third placers.
However, the Filipinos can even steal the second seed in the group from Bahrain if it beats China on Monday.
China beat Bahrain 105-59 earlier Saturday, which put Bahrain in a precarious situation ahead of its game against Kazakhstan.
Anton Bykov led Kazakhstan, which remained winless at 0-2, with 15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
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