JAKARTA - The PBA-backed Philippine quintet got the campaign of the country in the 18th Asian Games to a triumphant start with an overpowering 96-59 win over Kazakhstan in the opening game of Group D play in men's basketball competition at the GBK Basketball Hall here Thursday.
Stanley Pringle had an auspicious debut as a national player while Christian Standhardinger, James Yap, Paul Lee and Chris Tiu marked a good return with the national team, leading the Phl quintet to a smashing initial showing in the Jakarta meet.
Pringle top scored with 18 points while Standhardinger, Yap, Lee and Tiu added 15, 12, 10 and nine, respectively, as the Nationals tore apart a hapless Kazakhstan side, pulling off a 37-point rout that could very well guarantee Team Phl of a spot in the knockout round (Final Eight).
They seek top spot in Group D as they tangle with Team China Tuesday.
A 2-0 showing in Group D would give them an easy matchup in the Final Eight, but a 1-1 record could well pit them against old dangerous rival South Korea.
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Early hustle plays and individual defensive stops fueled an early 16-5 binge by starters Pringle, Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, Poy Erram, Maverick Ahanmisi.
The Nationals took the half at 41-20 and never stopped playing, making a scintillating show in the fourth quarter with Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson cheering from the bench.
Clarkson arrived in the playing venue towards the end of the third quarter.
Despite less than two weeks of training, the Nationals showed a semblance of chemistry and cohesion, outclassing the Kazakhs side which struggled badly minus injured stars Anton Ponomarev and Anatoliy Kolesnikov.
A sizeable Philippine gallery, including PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and members of the PBA board, rallied behind Team Phl.(SB)
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The scores:
Philippines 96 - Pringle 18, Standhardinger 15, Yap 12, Lee 10, Tiu 9, Norwood 7, Almazan 6, Erram 5, Taulava 5, Belga 5, Ahanmisi 4.
Kazakhstan 59 - Bykov 13, Gavrilov 9, Yergali 8, Zhigulin 7, Kuanov 6, Bazhin 6, Chsherbak 6, Maidekin 2, Marchuk 2, Yagodkin 0, Murzagaliyev 0, Satkeyev 0.
Quarterscores: 16-9, 41-20, 61-43, 96-59
