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Surprising not to see taiwan in the mix but overall the improvement is clear.

Congratulations on a successful season, Coach Woody.

NT Press Release:
Pilipinas beats Ghana, 127-73

The Pilipinas Panthers begin their campaign in the Season 54 Repechage with a 127-73 thumping of Ghana.

Bigman Royce Cardino must have watched a DeAndre Ayton mixtape before the game, leading the Panthers with an impressive 20 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks in 30 minutes of action. “We are preparing for a close match against Chile, so this win is important to us,” Cardino said during the press conference. “Chile won against Italy, but it appears their players were too exhausted after the game. I think we will have our chance on Monday,” Coach Lord Woody said during the post-game interview.

Eight of the ten Pilipinas players fielded scored in double figures, and the expectation is the same balanced attack will lead to another Pilipinas victory against the La Roja on Monday.

NT Update:
Panthers lose to Chile, 112-99.

Close, but not quite. That was the storyline in Monday night’s game against Chile.

Team Pilipinas kept the game close in the first 40 minutes, only to lose steam in the end. Bigman Jose Perales led the Chilean charge with a monster 30 points - 12 rebounds performance.

It did not help that the Filipinos lost the services of mainstays James Mabaquiao and Dingdong Fornoles. “I do not want to dwell in the what ifs. We lost the services of key players, and we also thought Chile would rely on their shooters. We will move on, and hope to win against Italians in our next match”, coach Lord Woody said in a press conference. Star guard Dingdong Fornoles will watch the game against Italy from the sidelines.

Pilipinas NT Press Release:
Panthers lose to Italy, bow out of the Tournament

The Pilipinas Panthers fail to advance in the next round of the Repechange Tournament, losing to Italy, 99-82.

The loss of key players proved to be too much for Coach Lord Woody to handle. “We did what we could, with the squad that we have. I am proud of my boys. Now, it is time to regroup and for us focus on the Consolation Tournament.”

In what may be his last run with the National Team, Ramsey Paspe led the Panthers with 21 points and 10 rebounds. “I will always cherish my time with the National Team, whatever happens,” Ramsey said after the game.

The Philippines will play against Egypt this Monday.

NT Press Release:
Panthers beat Egypt, 114-80

It was an ugly win, but we will take it, nonetheless.

That was the crux of Coach Lord Woody’s post-game huddle with the Panthers after they beat Egypt, 114-80. Seven of ten Pilipinas Panthers scored in double figures - Kidlat Celebria leading the way with 16 points. It was clear, however, that Lord Woody was not pleased with the team’s performance. “We clearly have a problem. We cannot allow teams attempt 30 plus shots from the stripe every game. If we played against a top-20 team, I am sure the outcome would be different”, Lord Woody said during the post-game conference.

There are rumors that oddsmakers were trying to keep this close. The Panthers were called ticky tack fouls against the Egyptians, with Nuri Zuabi and Mahmoud Muthanna being the prime beneficiaries of the calls. “The calls were so questionable, it makes James Harden’s foul baiting to be the standard of what is a foul”, a Panthers team official said via text message.

The win gives the Panthers a 1-2 record, good enough for 42nd place in the Consolation Tournament. They face undefeated England in the round.