Gilas makes FIBA Asia finals; faces mighty China for Rio Olympics slot

Gilas Pilipinas Basketball Team (Facebook)

MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas leaned on veteran Dondon Hontiveros to score a hard-earned 81-70 victory against Japan late Friday night to enter the finals of the 2015 FIBA Asia championship in Changsha, China.

Dubbed as Cebuano Hotshot, Hontiveros had his best game in the tournament after finishing with 18 points marked with glittering 6-of-9 shooting from big arc.

Andray Blatche sizzled anew with double-double performance after finishing 22 points and 13 rebounds while Jayson Castro remains consistent with 20 points and seven boards.

It was the second win of the Philippines against Japan which the Gilas defeated in the second round.

With the victory, the Filipinos inched one win away from clinching an elusive Rio Olympics slot.

The Philippines, however, have to hurdle host team China which remains undefeated after ousting defending champion Iran, 70-57, in other semifinals game.

The Rio Olympics-or-die championship game is set at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.