The Cedars of Lebanon struck hard in the second quarter and repulsed Gilas Pilipinas, 95-80, late Wednesday evening at the start of the Group D matches the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Wael Arakji showed the way for the Cedars with 20 points, while Jonathan Arledge and Hayk Gyokchyan added 19 apiece.
This allowed the Cedars to join the New Zealand Tall Blacks in the early lead after the Kiwis won over India, 100-70, earlier in the day.
Bobby Ray Parks and Carl Tamayo showed the way with 15 points for Gilas, which fell behind halfway in the second period.
Gilas was in front, 27-22, off Sam Josef Belangel’s triple in the final second of the first period.
But Gerard Hadidian and Gyokchyan put Lebanon in front in the second period with their drive and two charities with 5:24 left.
After that, the Cedars took off on a 15-6 run, and led 46-36, before the first half ended.
