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Asian Games: Gilas Pilipinas cruises to easy win vs Kazakhstan; China next

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/08/14/20180816-christian-standhardinger.jpg"/><figcaption>Christian Standhardinger and the Philippines were no match for Kazakhstan. <em>Lillian Suwanrumpha, Agence France-Presse</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3>Philippines virtual lock to advance</h3><p>It didn’t result in a championship — not yet at least — but the kind of defense the Philippine men’s national basketball team played on Thursday won coach Yeng Guiao and his crew a rousing first game in these Asian Games.</p><p>Stanley Pringle scored 18 points and Christian Standhardinger added 15, as the Filipinos beat Kazakhstan 96-59 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.</p><p>With the win, the Philippines is a virtual lock to reach the next round, given that two teams per group qualify; China is the third team in the bracket.</p><p>Guiao anchored his team’s hot start on a suffocating defense, led by the debuting national-team backcourt of Pringle and Maverick Ahanmisi.</p><p>Coupled with Kazakhstan’s inability to score from the field early and the Filipinos finding their range, this hurriedly assembled Gilas team missing a 12th guy had little trouble picking up its first win in Group D.</p><p>The Philippines next plays China on Tuesday, a game in which it will welcome Cleveland Cavaliers guard and late addition Jordan Clarkson, who arrived at Bung Karno just in time to see his teammates dismantle the Kazakhs.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1427202" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div style="text-align:center"><em>Philippines head coach Yeng Guiao talks to reporters after the game against Kazakhstan. Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News</em></div><p>“The coaching staff did a good job, an excellent job actually, with the scouting report and the preparation of our defensive schemes so we were able to disrupt their offense,” Guiao said.</p><p>“We were able to challenge their shots. Our anticipation was good and that’s because of the scouting we did and the implementation and the execution of our game plan.”</p><p>Kazakhstan was limited to just a field goal in the first quarter, missing 12 of 13 shots, and the 68th-ranked team in the FIBA world rankings never stood a chance against the hungrier, more determined Filipinos.</p><p>James Yap added 12 points for the Philippines, which forced Kazakhstan to 22 turnovers.</p><div><strong>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</strong></div>

<p>The Pinoys locked down on defense early and took advantage of their opponents' struggles in scoring to secure an emphatic opening-day win.</p>

The Pinoys locked down on defense early and took advantage of their opponents' struggles in scoring to secure an emphatic opening-day win.