Manila, Philippines - Croatian national basketball team has defeated Gilas Pilipinas, 81-78 at the FIBA World Cup round 1 game on Saturday, August 30, 2014 with live telecast from Seville, Spain.
The Philippine team was not able to exceed expectations due to the much tougher competition against Croatia in the overtime round.
Andray Blatche led the way with 28 points for the Philippines.
RELATED: FIBA World Cup 2014 TV5 Free Livestream video now available
Croatian superstar Bogdan Bogdanovic, who finished with 27 points, scored two free throws to break the game's final deadlock.
Philippines within one, 78-79, with 5.6 ticks left in the overtime round. Croatia hits free throws for an 81-78 lead with 6.1 ticks left.
Philippines hanging tough, just trails by two, 69-71, with 1:35 remaining. Castro rattles in floater to tie the game at 71. However, Chan has missed game-winning trey to push for an overtime.
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| Croatia FIBA World Cup 2014 roster |
Andray Blatche led the way with 28 points for the Philippines.
RELATED: FIBA World Cup 2014 TV5 Free Livestream video now available
Croatian superstar Bogdan Bogdanovic, who finished with 27 points, scored two free throws to break the game's final deadlock.
Philippines within one, 78-79, with 5.6 ticks left in the overtime round. Croatia hits free throws for an 81-78 lead with 6.1 ticks left.
Philippines hanging tough, just trails by two, 69-71, with 1:35 remaining. Castro rattles in floater to tie the game at 71. However, Chan has missed game-winning trey to push for an overtime.
Bogdanovic has scored easy two to open 5-minute overtime, 73-71.
Blatche lost the ball, but Croatia also muffed it as the game tied on 73. Bogdanovic hits free throws; Croatia on top, 77-75, with 41 ticks left in the overtime.
Philippines forces charge with the chance to tie the game with 3:36 left in the fourth quarter. Andray Blatche buries triple to achieved 64-all. Jeff Chan makes three free throws as Philippines takes the lead, 67-66, with 2:49 left.
Ranidel de Ocampo opened the fourth quarter for Gilas as he sank trey for 52-57.
Chan fakes off defender and buries a booming triple, 34-37, early in third quarter. Croatia sinks technical free throws, then a triple to end third quarter.
The first quarter has ended with Croatia leading by 14 points against Philippines, 23-9. A big leap on scores was achieved by Gilas at the end of second quarter, 37-31 in favor of Croatia. The end of third quarter gave hope with Croatia leading by 8 points, 57-49.
After the Croatia match, Gilas Pilipinas will next take on Greece on Sunday (August 31) at 2 p.m. before the Filipinos collide with the Argentina side at 11:30 p.m., also tomorrow.
The Croatian team is a young squad with only one player at least age 30. The team also has six players who are at least 6-foot-10, including 7-foot-2 giant Ante Tomic.
Meanwhile, Smart Gilas roster is composed of Jimmy Alapag, LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, Paul Lee, Gary David, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Japeth Aguilar, Ranidel de Ocampo, Junemar Fajardo, Marc Pingris and naturalized center Andray Blatche.
The game on Saturday marks the country's return to the world championships, 36 years after it last competed in the 1978 FIBA Worlds.
Philippines forces charge with the chance to tie the game with 3:36 left in the fourth quarter. Andray Blatche buries triple to achieved 64-all. Jeff Chan makes three free throws as Philippines takes the lead, 67-66, with 2:49 left.
Ranidel de Ocampo opened the fourth quarter for Gilas as he sank trey for 52-57.
Chan fakes off defender and buries a booming triple, 34-37, early in third quarter. Croatia sinks technical free throws, then a triple to end third quarter.
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| Jeff Chan buried a buzzer-beating trey as Philippines comes within six, 31-37, vs Croatia at the half |
After the Croatia match, Gilas Pilipinas will next take on Greece on Sunday (August 31) at 2 p.m. before the Filipinos collide with the Argentina side at 11:30 p.m., also tomorrow.
The Croatian team is a young squad with only one player at least age 30. The team also has six players who are at least 6-foot-10, including 7-foot-2 giant Ante Tomic.
Meanwhile, Smart Gilas roster is composed of Jimmy Alapag, LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, Paul Lee, Gary David, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Japeth Aguilar, Ranidel de Ocampo, Junemar Fajardo, Marc Pingris and naturalized center Andray Blatche.
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| Group B FIBA World Cup 2014 |
