Gilas Breakdown: Foul Troubles Cost PHI vs. Chinese Taipei
PHOTO: FIBA
Gilas Pilipinas stumbled out of the gate in their FIBA Asia Cup campaign, dropping their opening game 95-87 to Chinese Taipei. The loss was marked by a recurring theme: foul trouble that hampered Gilas’ physical defensive style and gave Chinese Taipei the edge at the free-throw line.
Fouls Kill Gilas’ Rhythm
The game was bogged down by constant fouling. Gilas racked up 26 fouls, allowing Chinese Taipei to step to the line 35 times, converting 27 free throws. In contrast, the Philippines managed only 15 attempts, making nine. Justin Brownlee’s foul trouble was costly — he fouled out in the fourth quarter after accumulating four fouls midway through the third. Chris Newsome and Scottie Thompson also picked up four fouls each, limiting their aggressiveness. Chinese Taipei’s players exploited the bonus situation expertly, drawing whistles and controlling the game tempo.
Defensive Breakdowns on Pick-and-Rolls
Chinese Taipei attacked Gilas’ perimeter defense relentlessly. The Filipinos’ ball screen coverage was inconsistent, especially on pick-and-rolls, allowing easy jumpers and penetration. June Mar Fajardo faced the brunt of the pressure, targeted repeatedly through pindowns, hand-offs, and high screens. Gilas defenders struggled to stay in front of their assignments, letting TPE rack up 12 of 27 from beyond the arc. Gilas’ off-ball movement was sloppy at times, often settling for late-clock shots due to spacing issues.
Ying-Chun Chen: The Unstoppable Force
Chinese Taipei’s Ying-Chun Chen was the standout. He scored 34 points on an efficient 10-of-17 shooting, mixing a reliable jumpshot with quick drives that earned him eight free throws, converting seven. Chen’s consistent scoring and speed made him the clear best player on the court, and Gilas had no answer.
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Kevin Quiambao Shines Bright Amidst the Struggle
The silver lining for the Philippines was Kevin Quiambao. After getting benched in the first half, he came in with energy and confidence, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, plus four rebounds and two assists in just 17 minutes. His ability to shoot, finish inside, push the pace, and create for teammates injected life into the team when it was desperately needed. Coach Tim Cone praised his performance: “He came out and played with a lot of energy, hit some big shots for us… Kevin played very, very well, and he was the highlight of the team.”
Key Stats and Game Flow
Chinese Taipei jumped out to a commanding 25-8 lead early, a gap Gilas never fully erased. The Filipinos trimmed the lead to four in the second quarter but were mostly on the back foot.
Despite shooting a solid 48% from the field, Gilas struggled from deep at 8-of-28, hampered by poor spacing. They dominated the boards 48-24 and outscored Chinese Taipei in the paint 36-20 and from the bench 41-16. However, turnovers were a killer: 16 giveaways led to 18 points for TPE. Chinese Taipei was careful with just four turnovers, generating six points for Gilas.
Coach Cone’s Take
“We got behind early in the game and just played on our heels the whole way. It was like we were in panic mode for 40 minutes,” he said. “If Chinese-Taipei continues to play like they did and make the shots they were making, then they can be one of the guys that gets a medal.”
Next Up
Gilas will face New Zealand on Thursday at 11 PM Manila time. A loss there will put them in a must-win situation against Iraq to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.
