GILAS Pilipinas stayed perfect through five games in pool play in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers after a 76-51 drubbing of Lester Prosper and his Indonesian teammates at the AUF Gym in Angeles, Pampanga Friday night.
Though younger, the Gilas youth brigade asserted themselves against coach Rajko Toroman's crew, pulling away in the second half en route to a second straight win in the FIBA Clark bubble.
The hosts have a shot at a three-game sweep in the Clark play and at a six-game sweep overall in Pool A play as Gilas and South Korea meet in a rematch at 6 p.m. Sunday.
Justine Baltazar and Ange Kouame topscored with 11 points each while Dwight Ramos collected double-double numbers with 10 markers and 12 rebounds, leading a balanced Gilas attack as coach Tab Baldwin shuffled his personnel no end.
Guaranteed of a spot in the Asia Cup proper but obviously still a work in progress, the Gilas young guns all had their minutes, including late addition Kai Sotto who got seven points and the same number of rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
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Carl Vincent Tamayo was limited to 12 minutes of play as he had to be helped to the bench, never to return, after twisting his ankle early in the fourth.
But he had his contribution including back-to-back booming treys that gave the Nationals a 59-38 spread with 8:07 to go.
It was a breeze for the Nationals after a close 81-78 win over the Koreans Wednesday.
The Nationals made it tough for the Indonesians with their relentless pressing defense. Even then, Prosper, a former Terrafirma import in the PBA, came through with 22 points that went with eight rebounds.
Team Phl let Indonesia into the game just in the first half, taking the half at 30-22 before zooming away to move on the brink of a Pool A sweep. (SB)
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