KIEFER Ravena took matters in his own hands this time, lifting Gilas Pilipinas to a 120-117 win over Alaska on Saturday at the Hoops Center in their final tune-up game before the Jones Cup next week.
After assisting on Carl Cruz’s dagger triple in the win over Blackwater on Friday night, the amateur star knocked down his own all-important trey, a contested one from the right wing, that gave the Nationals the lead for good in a nip-and-tuck, physical battle against the Aces.
Gilas thus went unscathed in its three tune-up games in the last four days.
Ravena finished with 14 points, three assists, one board, and one steal, while five other players, led by Mike Myers, scored in double figures for the national team, which drained 13 three-pointers as a unit.
The balanced effort trumped Buck Henton’s one-man wrecking crew that saw the Aces import scatter 40 points in a losing effort.
“More than the test, it was a hard game,” Gilas coach Chot Reyes said. “We know Alaska is a very disciplined team. They press a lot. I'm just very happy that we were able to withstand (them).”
Kobe Paras contributed a mere two points after missing all but one of his seven shots as the 19-year-old prodigy didn’t see action in the second half.
Jio Jalalon and Raymar Jose didn’t play entirely due to similar sprained ankles they suffered against the Elite.
The scores:
GILAS 120 – Myers 17, Cruz 15, Wright 15, Standhardinger 15, Ravena 14, Parks 12, Pogoy 9, Ferrer 6, Tolomia 6, Belo 6, Vosotros 3, Paras 2, Pessumal 0, Daquioag 0
ALASKA 117 – Henton 40, Magat 12, Abueva 12, Banchero 11, Enciso 10, Casio 6, Racal 6, Pascual 4, Mendoza 4, Dela Cruz 4, Thoss 3, Hontiveros 2, Galliguez 2, Baclao 1, Exciminiano 0
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