Gilas Pilipinas saw its three-game winning streak snapped in the King Abdullah Cup following a third-quarter meltdown against host Jordan Team A, 84-72, on Friday, July 30.

The Filipinos squandered a double-digit lead as the fatigue of playing consecutive games seemed to have already taken its toll, with the Jordanians owning the second half.

Down 36-41 at halftime, Jordan Team A unloaded a massive 29-5 bomb behind 10 Ahmad Al Dwairi points to build a 59-46 advantage in the third.

The Philippines narrowed the gap to 7 points off two Carl Tamayo free throws midway through the final quarter, 63-70, but Jordan Team A pulled away for good off a 12-2 run for its largest lead of the game.

Jordan Heading topscored for Gilas with 15 points on a 4-of-7 clip from three-point land to go with 4 rebounds, while Tamayo delivered 14 points on eight shots.

Heading and Tamayo came out firing early as they took turns offensively to give Gilas an 11-point lead in the second quarter, 32-21.

Rey Suerte put up 13 points and Justine Baltazar had 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals in the losing effort.

The Philippines badly missed the production of Dwight Ramos, who went scoreless as he missed all of his five shots.

Al Dwairi torched the Filipinos with 23 points and 9 rebounds, while Cameron Forte backstopped him with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals.

With its win against Jordan Team B not counted in the final standings, the Philippines finished the elimination round with a 2-2 record, good for third seed going into the semifinals.

Gilas has a shot at redemption as it tangles with Jordan Team A, which wound up at second seed with a 3-1 card, in the knockout semifinals on Saturday, July 31.

The Scores

Jordan 84 – Al Dwairi 23, Forte 22, Abu Hawwas 12, Mustafa 12, Bzai 6, Alhamarsheh 3, Darwish 3, Kanaan 3, Abdeen 0, Obeid 0, Abuwazaneh 0, Shaher Hussein 0, Abbas 0, Hazaimeh 0. 

Philippines 72 – Heading 15, Tamayo 14, Suerte 13, Baltazar 10, Go 5, Ravena 4, Ildefonoso 3, Abarrientos 3, Ramos 0, Navarro 0, Mi. Nieto 0, Chiu 0, Belangel 0, Ma. Nieto 0. 

Quarters: 18-16, 36-41, 67-56, 84-72.

– Rappler.com