Romeo top-scored for Gilas with 26 points, including a string of eight points that steadied the Gilas ship after China overhauled a 17-point deficit to seize an 87-84 lead with five minutes left.
Baskets by Christian Standhardinger and Matthew Wright capped a 12-point burst that enabled the Filipinos to avenge a loss to China in the 2015 Fiba Asia final in its hometown of Changsha.
More importantly, the win put an undermanned Gilas side on course to topping the tough Pool B in the eliminations. Iraq and Qatar are the other members of the bracket.
Aguilar anchored the Filipino dribblers’ defense with five blocks along with seven points, three boards, and one assist, against only one turnover in almost 26 minutes of play.
Gilas Pilipinas vs China
EVENTS: 2017 FIBA ASIA CUP
Where: City, Arena: Beirut, Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex
When: WEDNESDAY 09 August 2017
Guo Ailun sparked the Chinese comeback and finished with a team-high 18 points, while Jinqiu Hu added 13 markers, including two that gave his team its first lead of the game at 83-82 halfway through the payoff period.
Guo, however, fouled out with the game in the balance in the final four minutes.
Romeo, who scored 14 points in final frame and eight of the team’s last 12 markers, took over from Jayson Castro, who orchestrated the offense with aplomb with 13 points and seven assists, with his beneficiary mostly Standhardinger.
The Final Scoreboard Result:
PHILIPPINES 96 – Romeo 26, Standhardinger 15, Castro 13, Wright 12, Pogoy 9, Almazan 9, Aguilar 7, Norwood 3, Abueva 2, Cruz 0, Jalalon 0
CHINA 87 – Guo 18, Zhou 17, Hu 13, Li 11, Liu 9, Wu 6, Ren 4, Han 4, Gu 3, Yu 2, Zeng 0
Quarterscores: 26-16, 53-39, 76-70, 96-87