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FIBA: Gilas grateful for crowd support in Jeddah

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Gilas Pilipinas applaud the crowd after their win over Saudi Arabia in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. FIBA.basketball" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/11/14/fiba_phi.jpg"/><figcaption>Gilas Pilipinas applaud the crowd after their win over Saudi Arabia in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. <em>FIBA.basketball</em></figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>The support of Filipino fans in Jeddah played a huge role in Gilas Pilipinas&#x27; victory over Saudi Arabia in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, national team coach Chot Reyes said. </p><p>The Philippines recovered from a sluggish start on Sunday night and pulled away in the second half for a 76-63 victory against Saudi Arabia at the King Abdullah Sports City. It was the third straight win for Gilas Pilipinas in the qualifiers. </p><p>They also completed a sweep of the fifth window after having beaten Jordan last Thursday. </p><p>Only a limited number of Filipino fans watched as Gilas outlasted Jordan, 74-66, in Amman but more supporters were allowed in Jeddah, to the delight of the national team.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/14/22/fiba-wcup-gilas-fend-off-gutsy-saudi-win-3rd-straight">GAME RECAP: Gilas fend off gutsy Saudi, win 3rd straight</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/11/22/fiba-wcup-sotto-in-form-gilas-down-jordan">READ: Sotto, in-form Gilas down Jordan</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I actually acknowledged last night, when I talked to one of the officials of the federation, and I told them, kudos to you for opening it up to Filipinos, because [it&#x27;s] unlike in the other places that we&#x27;ve played,&quot; Reyes said ahead of their game.</p><p>The Gilas fans played a factor in their win, said Reyes, as they cheered the team through a shaky start that saw them settle for a 16-all tie at the end of the first quarter. </p><p>&quot;I think we got a lot of energy from the crowd. They really gave us a huge boost,&quot; said Reyes. &quot;They just wouldn&#x27;t allow us to lose, until we hit our stride and finally hit some shots in the second half, in the third quarter.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines seized control of the game in the second half, leading by as much as 16 points in the third quarter. Four players scored in double-digits, with Dwight Ramos and Roger Pogoy each contributing 13 points while Kai Sotto had 11 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks. </p><p>Scottie Thompson also continued his fine play for the flag, with nine points, nine boards, three assists, and two steals. </p><p>HIGHLIGHTS:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SUr4_132KAc?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>&quot;We just want to thank God for the win tonight, and of course to all the Filipinos out there coming to support us,&quot; Thompson said after their win.</p><p>The Philippines improved to 5-3 in Pool E with the result, while Saudi Arabia dropped to 2-6. Still, the game was a far closer affair than their first encounter, when a Jordan Clarkson-powered Gilas team crushed the visiting Saudi Arabia squad, 84-46, at the Mall of Asia Arena in August.</p><p>Reyes had nothing but praise for the home team.</p><p>&quot;Kudos, congratulations to the Saudi national team. I thought they came out and they played hard, they came in with a very good game plan,&quot; he said. &quot;We knew the high quality of this team, and so we had mentally prepared ourselves to struggle.&quot;</p><p>&quot;But, luckily, we stayed patient through our early struggles.&quot;</p><p>Related video:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IV3Og_ISeTs?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The support of Filipino fans in Jeddah played a huge role in Gilas Pilipinas' victory over Saudi Arabia in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Chot Reyes said. 

FIBA: Gilas grateful for crowd support in Jeddah

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FIBA: Gilas grateful for crowd support in Jeddah

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 14, 2022 12:50 PM PHT

Read More:

basketball

FIBA

Gilas Pilipinas

Saudi Arabia

Chot Reyes

FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

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