MANILA (UPDATED) — Gilas Pilipinas’ preparations for the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament are off to a good start.

This, after the Nationals defeated the Taiwan Mustangs, 74-64, during their friendly face-off on Monday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. 

Leading the way for the Filipino hoopers was Dwight Ramos who posted 19 points as well as four steals and three rebounds while serving as the squad’s lead guard in lieu of the injured Scottie Thompson. Following him was Justin Brownlee who tallied a 12-point, 15-assist game together with five boards.

Also starring for the 11-man Philippine roster were twin towers Kai Sotto (nine points, nine rebounds, two assists) and June Mar Fajardo (eight points, four rebounds), while Carl Tamayo provided seven markers and one board.

“We weren’t concerned about winning or losing this game,” said head coach Tim Cone after they triumphed over the Taiwanese squad that featured Alex Cabagnot, Rashawn McCarthy, and Geo Chiu.

“We wanted to play a certain style. We worked hard on the defensive side, and this is exactly what we needed. We wanted it to be hard, we did not want it to be easy. If it was easy, it was not going to help us,” added Cone after Taiwan displayed a valiant stand against them.

After the Philippines only led by five at halftime, with the two teams exchanging hits despite a 17-4 start by Gilas, Cone’s troops powered on a huge third quarter by outscoring Taiwan, 21-12, to create a 17-point lead in the second half.

The Mustangs then brought down the Philippines’ lead to eight midway through the fourth after an and-one by Ray Miller off an assist by Cabagnot, but that was the closest that they could get as Gilas’ cushion proved to be enough for them to thwart their opponents and win their first of three friendlies.

Meanwhile, the former San Miguel Beermen star led Taiwan’s charge with an all-around display of 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, Oscar Lopez top-scored for them with a 15-point, nine-rebound outing, while McCarthy handed out 12 markers, three boards, and three assists.

Gilas is now set to fly to Europe and will be facing Turkey on June 27 and Poland on June 30.

They will then be going up against Latvia and Georgia in the Riga OQT proper.

The scores:

Philippines 74 – Ramos 19, Brownlee 12, Sotto 9, Fajardo 8, Tamayo 7, Aguilar 6, Perez 3, Amos 3, Oftana 3, Newsome 2, Quiambao 2.

Taiwan 64 – Lopez 15, Cabagnot 13, McCarthy 12, Deguara 10, Robinson 5, Borja 3, Yan 2, Chung 0, Chiu 0.

QUARTERS: 25-19, 37-32, 58-44, 74-64.