E-Gilas falls to Australia in FIBA Esports Open II finals

E-Gilas Pilipinas fell short of the title in the Southeast Asia/Oceania conference of the FIBA Esports Open II after succumbing to Australia in the grand finals on Sunday, November 15.

After finishing the elimination round with an impressive 5-1 record, the top seed Philippines failed to sustain its fiery form as it absorbed a sweep in the best-of-three series.

Losing to E-Gilas twice in the elimination round, the E-Boomers brought out their big guns when it mattered most, winning Game 1, 62-54, behind 34 combined points of Kyle “Vassallo” Vassallo and Jonte “AnkleTv” Burns.

Aljon “Shintarou” Cruzin finished with 18 points, but the Philippines ran out of games in its fourth-quarter comeback.

Australia then came out blazing from the get-go in Game 2 as it reasserted its mastery over the Philippines with a crushing 69-54 victory to secure the championship.

Point guard Benjamin “Waruk” Clobas, who earned tournament MVP honors, finished with a double-double of 12 points and 13 assists for Australia in the victory.

Cruzin and Rial “Rial” Polog Jr netted 13 points apiece in the Game 2 loss, while Clark “Clark” Banzon and Custer “Custer” Galas had 12 and 10 points, respectively. – Martin Mendoza/Rappler.com