Gilas beats Magnolia in tuneup
RAY Parks nailed big early triples to propel the Philippine men’s basketball team to a 93-77 victory over Magnolia in a tune-up match on Friday at the Meralco Gym.
Gilas went off to a slow start but took control in the second, with Parks hitting a couple of three-pointers. AJ Edu and Rhenz Abando also made key baskets to keep Gilas ahead.
“Throughout the game, there were moments, flashes of really, really good basketball offensively and defensively,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes. “But we just need to be able to sustain it over a long period of time.”
It was the last tuneup game for the team before it departs for China on Tuesday to play a pocket tournament featuring Lebanon, Iran and Senegal.
Converge routs NorthPort
ADRIAN Wong scored 23 points on 7 of 12 shooting as Converge overpowered Northport, 113-84, on Friday in the PBA on Tour at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Mike Nieto had 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Jeron Teng went 6 for 11 and finished with 17 points for the FiberXers, who had a 6-5 win-loss record in the preseason event.
MJ Ayaay scored 19 on 7 of 10 shooting off the bench for the Batang Pier, who suffered their sixth loss in 11 games.
Meralco holds off Rain or Shine
RAYMAR Jose had 22 points and 18 rebounds, while Raymond Almazan scored 18 and hauled down 15 rebounds as Meralco defeated Rain or Shine, 103-95, in the PBA on Tour on Friday in Pasig.
Allein Maliksi scored 18 on 7 of 15 shooting off the bench as the Bolts ended the preseason with seven wins in 11 games.
Mac Belo had 22 points for the Elasto Painters, who wound up with the second-best record in the preseason event at 8-3 behind Magnolia, which swept its 11 games.
Philippines vs Norway
PHILIPPINE women’s football team coach Alen Stajcic expects Norway to give it all in the match against the Filipinas in their final pool match on Sunday in the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Stajcic says Ada Hegerberg cannot be discounted and Norway, Women’s World Cup champion in 1995, cannot be taken lightly with or without the Ballon d’Or Feminin winner.
Hegerbeg suffered a groin injury during the warmup for the match against Switzerland, and the Lyon striker was held out.
“They are not champions for no reason. Champions always know how to fight back and come back. So we have to be ready for that,” said Stajcic.
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