Gilas Pilipinas kept it close against Serbia losing only by seven points, 76-83, inside the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade at the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers.
Serbia was off to a good start going off to an 11-0 start over the Philippines. Kai Sotto and Ange Kouame triggered a comeback as Gilas Pilipinas closes in the gap with just one point 15-14 with 2:24 left in the quarter.
Milos Teodosic got his groove late in the first period sinking five straight points with Serbia leading by six heading on to the second quarter.
Ognjen Dobric and Boban Marjanovic helped push the Serbian lead to 11 points to end the first half. Both players head to the third period combining for 25 of their 45 points. Teodosic at this point contributed eight markers.
The Philippines surged further and kept it close in the fourth period with the efforts of Kouame, Heading and Baltazar. Marjanovic was too dominant in the paint as the Serbian team held on to a seven-point victory.
Marjanovic led Serbia with 25 points and 10 rebounds while Dobric finished with 16. Teodosic was able to tally 13 points and six assists in the victory.
Gilas Pilipinas will be facing the Dominican Republic next and will need to win this game to move on to the semi-finals.
