MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas buried Kazakhstan with an avalanche of threes behind Jerrick Ahanmisi’s hot shooting hands to score a runaway 109-78 decision and book its first win in the 20th Asian Games men’s basketball group stage on Saturday at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.
Scoreless in the Philippines' shock 85-89 loss to Bahrain after playing just a little over two minutes, Ahanmisi this time, made the most of the playing time he got against the Kazakhs.
The San Miguel Beer gunner knocked down five of the Filipinos’ seven threes in the last period to trigger a murderous 25-3 endgame run.
Ahanmisi would go on to finish with 22 points to lead the Philippines, which kept its quarterfinal hopes alive as it now improved to an even 1-1 record.
Robert Bolick also had a solid bounce-back game as he finished with 18 points since going scoreless in his Asian Games debut last Friday.
Calvin Oftana, who had 31 points versus the Bahrainis, chipped in 14, Sedrick Barefield added 11, while Zavier Lucero 10.
Gilas finished the game by making 16 of its 29 three-point attempts, while shooting 52 percent from the floor overall.
Kazakhstan dropped its second straight blowout loss after bowing to mighty China, 99-61.
The win is a huge confidence builder for Gilas, which will close the group stage with a face off against unbeaten China (2-0) on Monday.
China earlier in the day, annihilated Bahrain, 105-59.
The Philippines will have to bring its A-game against China, which the national side defeated three years ago, 77-76 in the semifinals behind Justin Brownlee’s heroics that saw Gilas bounce back from a 20-point deficit to stun the host squad in Hangzhou.
