Jordan Clarkson leads the Philippines to a win in the Fiba World Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Christmas sort of got going in the country a few days ago, and Gilas Pilipinas on Saturday night to add to the revelries.
The Filipinos, saving their best for last, dismantled China, 96-75, behind Jordan Clarkson’s third-quarter explosion to end their 2023 Fiba World Cup homestand on a winning note.
Gilas Pilipinas came out the gates hard, and for a change, kept it together until the final horn at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, to the delight of over 11,000 spectators.
Clarkson, to nobody’s surprise, led the way with 34 points—24 of which came in a feisty third-quarter attack that broke the game wide open. He made five straight 3-pointers in under three minutes.
FLAMETHROWER 🔥🔥🔥
JORDAN CLARKSON SCORES 20 PTS IN LESS THAN 4 MINUTES 🤯😳#FIBAWC x #WinForPilipinas 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/07XEDOroUl
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 2, 2023
Rhenz Abando chipped in 14 points, while cornerstone Dwight Ramos added 11 as the Philippines tabbed a sixth win overall against the regional powerhouse on both Fiba and the Olympic stage.
Kai Sotto added 14 points, June Mar Fajardo nine, Roger Pogoy seven and AJ Edu five for collective effort at the time when the squad was missing Jamie Malonzo who sat out the contest after falling awkwardly on his back during the loss to South Sudan.
The Philippines thus ends the 2023 World Cup with a 1-4 record, tying its record in the edition held in Seville, Spain nine years ago.
With the win, Gilas bolstered its chances of gaining passage into the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments which will dangle four more berths to the Paris Summer Games next year.
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