CAUGHT in a fight-or-flight moment as Angola took on the Jordan Clarkson-led Philippines in the 2023 Fiba World Cup group phase, Gerson Goncalves was just glad he gave it his all.
The 6-foot-4 guard posted 17 points, six rebounds, two steals, and a dime to steer Angola to a 10-point win over the home bets, 80-70, last Sunday.
Pressure might have been high playing against the host country, but Goncalves didn't miss out on the chance to leave a mark facing the high-scoring Utah Jazz guard.
The 27-year-old made the obvious choice when asked about any Filipino player that impressed him.
"Jordan Clarkson was impressive," he told SPIN.ph. "When the game finished, I went up to him and [told] him, 'I'm a big fan, I watch him play."
He added: "It's a nice experience, unforgettable experience to play against him."
Goncalves also commended the atmosphere in the Araneta Coliseum that night.
"Philippine basketball fans, big crowd... that makes you want to play harder," he said.
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