Gilas still in running as Dominican Republic escapes Angola in FIBA World Cup

Gilas Pilipinas got the result it needed in the other Group A game on a crucial Tuesday game day as Dominican Republic staved off Angola, 75-67, to achieve sweep of the group in the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

But that was just half of the battle as Gilas now needs to beat Italy later at 8 p.m. by 12 or more points to have a chance at advancing to the second round. A Gilas win would force a three-way tie with Angola and Italy at 1-2.

Read more | FIBA World Cup Preview: A Serbian correspondent breaks down Gilas Pilipinas vs Italy

The Dominicans are through to the next round after capping off the preliminaries with a clean 3-0 slate.

The Angolans took advantage of a Karl-Anthony Towns’ foul-plagued outing after the Minnesota Timberwolves big man picked up three early fouls after just four minutes of action in the first.

Towns missed the rest of the frame and did not see action in the second period, returning to the court only in the third period. But the towering center was again whisted for an offensive foul in 8:45 mark of the third, helping Angola take the lead, 46-45, after a Childe Dundao triple.

But the Dominicans refused to slow down as Andres Feliz made it a 69-65 cushion before Towns sank two freebies for a 71-65 lead.

Feliz led Dominican Republic with 17 points, six rebounds, and two assists while Victor Liz chipped in 13 markers, eight boards, three steals, and one dime.

Towns finished with eight points, two rebounds, and one assist in 15 minutes of play.

Silvio De Sousa paced Angola with a near double-double outing of 19 points and nine rebounds alongside two assists, two steals, and one block.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News