Here are the live scores, updates, and results of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers between the Gilas Pilipinas and team Indonesia, scheduled on June 18, 2021, at 6:00 PM live from Clark, Pampanga in the Philippines.
Gilas is well-known for its slogan “PUSO!” and that mantra was really in the air a few days ago inside the gym in Clark, Pampanga when they dueled against their familiar foe in Asia basketball, the team South Korea.
With their patent long-range bombings, the Koreans were in control in the first two-quarters of the match. They piled advantage points as much as 17 points lead by another familiar face in the world of Philippine basketball, the former Star Hotshots import Ricardo Ratliffe who now carrying a new name in Guna RA.
Guna had his usual double-double performance in that game yet his full potential was put to a limit both in offense and defensive end. The now grown-up Kai Sotto wasn’t afraid to play physically against the Korean naturalized player and utilized his ceiling and reach to his advantage. On the other hand, there’s Ange Kouame who displayed his new offensive weapon, which’s being sharp from the three-point land. Gilas opponents should now think twice in giving Kouame enough room beyond the three-point arc.
Sotto finished the game with 11 points and seven rebounds while Kouame had 12 points and six boards. Though they were dubbed as the Philippines’ twin towers, yet head coach Tab Baldwin seems like refraining to deploy his tall forwards together inside the court.
Dwight Ramos who continues to display superb outings in this non-PBA laden roster led his team with 16 points and five boards.
SJ Belangel who took the hero role in that Tuesday game scored 13 points along with his five rebounds. Belangel deflated the Koreans hopes for a complete comeback after they tied the game at 78-all with their own stellar three-pointer.
“It just goes to show you that small bodies but big hearts still have a place in the game of basketball,” Baldwin said after the game about the 5-foot-10 Belangel.