Team Italy out-powered Gilas Pilipinas in their Group D opener and took the victory, 108-62.
The Italian squad’s defense was felt by the Filipino basketball players since the start of the ball-game.
They made sure that Gilas players won’t have a clear vision from the three-point area as well as shutting down its naturalized player, Andray Blatche.
As a result, team Philippines had an awful night as they only converted three long bombs out of its twenty-three shots.
Likewise, Blatche forced to commit nine turnovers. The former New Jersey Nets player had a total of 15 points and 10 rebounds output.
Despite the defeat suffered by Gilas Pilipinas, still, there’s still some consolation prize to the squad led by coach Yeng Guiao which they can take utilize more in their upcoming games.
That’s the revelation of the PBA rookies, CJ Perez and Robert Bolick who prove that they deserve their place in the national squad.
Perez made 15 points while Bolick had six points.
The Future is Now!
For team Italy, Danilo Gallinari had 16 points while his fellow NBA veteran Marco Belinelli added nine points where some of those were miracle shots.
Gilas Pilipinas next opponent is team Serbia while Italy will face Angola. Both games will be watched live on September 2.
Box Score
Italy (108) – Della Valle 17, Belinelli 9, Gentile 6, Biligha 8, Vitali 2, Gallinari 16, Hackett 7, Filloy 7, Brooks 8, Tessitori 9, Abass 2, Datome 17
Philippines (62) – Blatche 15, Lee 2, Ravena 5, Bolick 6, Barroca 2, Fajardo 9, Pogoy 2, Perez 15, Rosario 2, Almazan 2, Aguilar 2