Photo Credit: FIBA Asia
Philippines (4-0) defeated South Korea (2-1), 81-78 in the opening day of the third and last window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Wednesday at the AUF Sports and Cultural Center in Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines. Gilas Pilipinas officially qualified for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia!
SJ Belangel delivered the game winner and drilled an off-balance, three-pointer at the buzzer. Belangel finished with 13 points (5/9 FG, 4/7 2pts, 1/2 3pts, 2/2 FT) with 5 rebounds, 2 assists in 23 minutes of play.
Dwight Ramos led Gilas with 16 pts (9/10 FT), 5 rebs, 2 steals and 1 block. While 7'3" Kai Sotto scored 11 points (4/8 2pts, 3/4 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in 18mins. Naturalized Filipino Ange Kouame with a solid game of 12 points (1/3 2pts, 3/5 3pts, 1/3 FT) 6 rebounds, 1 block and 1 assist.
PHILIPPINES 81 - Ramos 16, Belangel 13, Kouame 12, Sotto 11, Tamayo 10, Baltazar 6, Abarrientos 6, Go 4, Nieto 3, Navarro 0, De Liano 0, Tungcab 0.
SOUTH KOREA 78 - Ra (Ratliffe) 24, H Lee 15, S Lee 9, Jeon 9, Kang 7, Moon 6, Yang 4, Kim 2, D Lee 2, Byeon 0.
Quarters: 12-21, 36-44, 56-57, 81-78.