GILAS Pilipinas fell prey to a hot-shooting Turkey team and absorbed an 84-73 loss in their friendly early Friday morning at Besiktas Akatlar Culture and Sports Complex in Istanbul.
The Dev Adam kept the Filipinos at bay behind their clutch shooting from beyond the arc, where they went 14-of-41, including 5-of-9 by 6-foot-7 Tarik Biberovic, who led the host country with 23 points.
His last three pointer for the game eventually sealed the game for the Turkish side, 81-73.
Justine Brownlee led Gilas with 21 points but was only 1-of-7 from deep and turned the ball over six times.
June Mar Fajardo had a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds for the national team, which played the first of two tune-up games in its schedule before heading to Riga, Latvia for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Sponsored content: No other players finished in double figures for Gilas outside of Brownlee and Fajardo, with Carl Tamayo adding seven, the same output of young big man Kai Sotto, who fouled out in the final 2:35 of the contest.
Gilas kept the game close most of the way against a Turkey team that played without its players from the NBA, although Osman Cedi of the San Antonio Spurs was at courtside to watch the game.
The visiting team was down 42-40 at the half and 64-56 entering the fourth.
But the Filipinos made an 11-4 run capped by Brownlee's lone basket from long range to threaten at 68-65.
Turkey, ranked no. 24 in the world and coached by three-time Euroleague champion Ergin Ataman, countered by scoring eight unanswered points to restore a 76-65 advantage.
Sponsored content: Shooting guard Furkan Korkmaz went a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line to finish with 12 points for the Turkish, who are preparing for the Euro Basket qualifiers.
Gilas will travel to Poland and play the world no. 15 on Sunday for its final tune-up match prior to the OQT. (RG)
The scores
Turkey (84) -- Biberovic 23, Korkmaz 12, Sanli 9, Sipahi 9, Osmani 8, Ozdemiroglu 7, Haltali 6, Kabaca 3, Yilmaz 3, Bas 2, Yasar 2, Ilyasoglu 0.
Philippines (73) -- Brownlee 21, Fajardo 17, Sotto 7, Tamayo 7, Newsome 5, Ramos 4, Aguilar 4, Perez 3, Oftana 3, Quiambao 2, Amos 0.
Quarterscores: 24-21; 42-40; 64-56; 84-73.
