Gilas' comeback fell short as Adelaide even series

There were no repeat of their first meeting, as Adelaide made sure of taking care of the lead by subduing Gilas Pilipinas, 85-75 in the back end of their two-game series Sunday evening at the Meralco Gym.

Thanks to their signature pressure defense, the NBL's 36ers made sure that they will end their tour of the country on a high note, after losing their first meeting last Friday and also being at the wrong end of upset by reigning UAAP champions Ateneo yesterday.

Combo guard Daniel Johnson lead the Sixers with 16, as four more hit double-digit territory to give a massive lesson to coach Yeng Guiao on team play, in which it will come in handy when the FIBA World Cup tips off in a week.

Gilas had not shot better since their win over the vistors, as they only hit for 40% from the field, including just 6/23 from beyond the arc.

Adelaide broke away in the opening frame when they hit 17 straight to turn a 9-11 deficit into a fifteen point advantage, before Harry Froling made it a 16-point game when he hit a triple before the end of the quarter.

After his FIBA suspension ended yesterday, Kiefer Ravena played in his first game in 18 months and turned up for Gilas in the second, scoring the quarter's first seven points as they inspired a late rally but cound not connect more shots as they faced a 14 point deficit at the half.

Adelaide then tunred on the screws at the restart, and even led by as much as 21 at the start of the fourth when the late Gilas rally began, which was started by a Junemar Fajardo three-point play.

A Robert Bolick four-point play energized the crowd as the national side inched to within seven on a four-point swing by Blatche with three minutes left.

However, that was all Gilas wrote when Adelaide hit five in a row to seal their win, capping off with a Daniel Dillon triple to make it 85-73 with 33 seconds left.

The scores:

Adelaide 85 -- Johnson 16, Griffin 15, McVeigh 15, Taylor 10, Teys 10, Moore 7, Dillon 7, Kyei 5, Froling 3, White 0, Ayre 0

Gilas Pilipinas 75 -- Blatche 16, Ravena 11, Barroca 8, Perez 8, Fajardo 7, Bolick 6, Almazan 6, Pogoy 5, Norwood 4, Lee 2, Aguilar 2, Rosario 0

Quarter scores: 29-13, 44-30, 67-48, 85-75