Gilas Pilipinas went off a to slow start early then started to flex its muscle in the second period to dominate Bahrain and quickly enter the win column in the Asian Games men's basketball tournament following an 89-61 win over Bahrain Tuesday at the Zijinjang University inside the Zhekjiang University.
The Filipinos used their size advantage and manpower edge against a Bahrain team that just couldn't keep up with the balance firepower of the Pinoy cagers, who came out solid in their first game ever together under returning national team coach Tim Cone.
Cone took over as coach of Gilas from Chot Reyes barely two weeks ago, but quickly imposed his imprint Triangle Read and React play.
Justin Brownlee, one of the two naturalized players seeing action for Gilas, returned to active participation since last leading the Filipinos' redemption tour in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games as he pumped in 14 points and 10 rebounds, but he got plenty of support from fellow naturalized player Ange Kouame, CJ Perez and Calvin Oftana.
Kouame pumped in 15 markers, the same points tallied by Perez, while Oftana contributed 10.
Gilas also went business as usual shackling down former Philippine Basketball Association reinforcement Wayne Chism, a former Best Import, who was limited to only five points in 26 minutes of play.