2023 FIBA World Cup: Clarkson's 34 helps Gilas Pilipinas romp China to end losing streak for OQT ticket

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas vented ire against China, 96-75, to finish their 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign on a winning note at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, September 2.

Backed by a loud crowd all night long, the host used a strong third-quarter kick led by Jordan Clarkson and never relinquished their double-digit lead to gift the Filipinos a World Cup win for the first time since 2014.

Nine years ago in Spain, Gilas defeated Senegal in their last group assignment for the Philippines' first victory after an almost four-decade absence in the basketball extravaganza.

Pouring his average of 24 points per outing in the third quarter alone, Clarkson exploded for a tournament-high 34 points built on 5/10 triples laced by three assists and two rebounds. JC's red-hot shooting helped Gilas open up the game's first double-digit spread, 59-48, with 3:20 left.

Sparkplug Rhenz Abando provided 14 points and five rebounds off the bench, while Kai Sotto added 12 markers and six boards as both shot 5/9 from the field. Birthday boy Dwight Ramos had 11 with five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block for Gilas that secured a berth in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

The Philippines deprived its Asian rival of the OQT seat with a better point difference after two games in Group M of the 17th-32nd classification phase. In five matches, Gilas listed a -21 while China settled for -94.

China got things going for them early in the third after scoring easy baskets in the shaded lane for a 44-39 lead.

However, the Chinese cagers weren't ready for a Clarkson eruption in the coming minutes.

Finding his offensive rhythm, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year outscored the entire Aleksandar Đorđević's wards, 24-11, and he did that in the last four minutes for the Philippines to enter the final canto with a huge 22-point lead, 73-51.

The 16-time FIBA Asia champion couldn't recover from there as celebrations erupted in Cubao after the final buzzer sounded.

A close first half saw both sides fighting back and forth with China topping the opening 20 minutes by just a point, 40-39, thanks to their strong finish in the second quarter powered by Minnesota Timberwolves' Kyle Anderson, also known as Li Kaier.

Anderson came shy of a double-double behind his 21-point, nine-rebound performance with five assists in a losing effort.

Zhang Zhenlin contributed 14 markers and Hu Jinqiu chipped in 12 for China, but went to naught as the Dragons fell to a 1-4 mark to end their World Cup stint in a losing fashion.