GILAS Pilipinas defeated Ateneo, 86-79, on Tuesday in a tightly fought tune-up game at the Moro Lorenzo gym in preparation for the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.
Baser Amer provided the heroics for Gilas as he scored a floater with 29.1 seconds to play in the fourth to stave off a tough challenge by the Blue Eagles.
Gilas' first tune-up game in its buildup for the SEA Games in Malaysia in two weeks time proved to be a test as Ateneo kept the nationals from pulling away and led up until the third quarter.
Ateneo, which is using the tune-up game as part of its preparations for Season 80 of the UAAP, gave Gilas everything it could handle and led by six points, 53-47, at one point in the third period.
Almond Vosotros, however, helped Gilas unleashed an 11-0 run that gave it a 58-53 lead that eventually ballooned to 10, 78-68.
The Blue Eagles were still able to trim the lead to four, 80-76, following back-to-back baskets by Tyler Tio before Amer took over.
Following Amer's floater, the Meralco cager also forced a turnover that led to a Kiefer Ravena basket that put the game away, 86-79.
Gilas Pilipinas will play tune-up games against three more college teams before heading to Kuala Lumpur for the defense of the SEA Games gold medal.
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