TEAM Pilipinas finally got to flex its muscles after engaging Meralco in a tune-up game a day before it leaves for the crucial final window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
The nationals booked a runaway 100-82 victory at the Meralco gym Friday behind the outside shooting of guard Roger Pogoy, who finished with a game-high 21 points.
The team played minus naturalized player Andray Blatche, who has since returned to China to fulfil his obligation with mother ballclub Tianjin Gold Lions.
But it is what it is, and coach Yeng Guiao is ready to face whatever the team is dealt with.
"At least even without Andray, the guys are blending well. We played good defense and we are hoping we can still improve our defense."
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It was Pogoy's offense however, which spelled the difference against the Bolts.
The TnT stalwart, set to re-join the team after serving out the five-game suspension FIBA meted on him, went on a personal 8-0 run - including two from three-point range - in the second quarter as Team Pilipinas began to pull away, 40-31, following a tight opening period.
The lead was later stretched to 21 as the national team went on another scoring tear in the second half.
Marcio Lassiter complemented Pogoy with 14 points, while big men June Mar Fajardo and Troy Rosario were the others to finish in double figures for Team Pilipinas with 13 and 10, respectively.
Former Team Pilipinas member Baser Amer led Meralco's cause with 14 points, followed by veteran Reynel Hugnatan with 13, Nico Salva with 12, and Ranidel De Ocampo, another former national team veteran, with 11.
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At the end, Guiao extended his gratitude to Meralco management for allowing the Bolts to engage the nationals in their first and only tune-up match before their departure to Qatar and Kazakhstan for the sixth and final window of the qualifiers.
"We'd like to thank Meralco for making themselves available for our only tune-up games," said the Team Pilipines mentor of the match arranged through the effort of Ryan Gregorio, the Special Assistant to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio and a key executive of Meralco.
Team Pilipinas leaves for Doha, Qatar early Saturday morning and will play the host on Feb. 21, before departing for Astana, Kazakhstan for its Feb. 24 match.(RG)
