PHILIPPINES WINS OVER LEBANON IN FIBA ASIA CUP
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Sep 2012
(Photo of Smart-Gilas Pilipinas by Chot Reyes/aktv)
After a heart-breaking loss to China in the opener, Smart-Gilas Pilipinas national team won against Lebanon, 78-68 for its first win in the FIBA Asia Cup in Tokyo, Japan. Naturalized player Marcus Douthit hit 25 points and grabbed 21 rebounds to lead the Philippines? onslaught against powerhouse Lebanese squad. Lebanon was ahead at the end of the first quarter, 20-19. The lead increased to 41-38 at halftime. Gilas Pilipinas outscored Lebanon 21-12 in the pivotal third quarter and grabbed the front seat, 59-53.
Douthit showed dominance in the offensive by scoring second chance points from teammates? misses in the third period, scoring 8 of his 10 points in the quarter on follow ups. He sank a pair of free throws with 23 seconds remaining in the third period, gave the Philippines a six-point lead, the biggest in either team at that time.
In the fourth quarter, Douthit kept the Philippines? hopes alive connecting inside the paint to pilot Gilas ahead 70-61, with 3:29 remaining in the game. Gary David sank a crucial basket for a comfortable 72-66 margin 2:05 remaining. Another David score with 24 seconds remaining gave the assurance for the Philippines? victory. The triumph was sealed by two free throws by LA Tenorio with 14 seconds to go and a drive by Jared Dillinger 3 seconds into the end game. David and Tenorio contributed 11 points each while Dillinger had 10 for the Gilas Pilipinas win.
Fadi Khatib had 24 points and 15 rebounds while Garnett Thompson contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds for Lebanon, the defending champions of the tournament. Lebanon was the only team who defeated the Philippines during the recent 34th Jones Cup title run.
Philippines and Lebanon now tied at 1-1, while China and Uzbekistan led Group A with 1-0. Macau is at the tail end with 2-0. Philippines and Uzbekistan will face each other on Sunday.
The Smart-Gilas Pilipinas almost made it against the much taller Chinese team, but succumbed to poor shooting and lost, 71-68, in the opening game. The younger China players just averaged 20 years of age, but their height average is 6-foot-8 as against the Filipinos? 6-foot-4.
The Smart-Gilas team was formed in just less than a month and had not practiced solidly because of the conflicts of the players? practices with their mother teams in the PBA.
The FIBA Asia Cup was played since 2004, then 2008 and 2010. Qatar was champion in 2004 in Taipei, Jordan won the title in 2008 in Kuwait, while Lebanon won the crown in Beirut in 2010. The Philippines placed fourth in 2010 when they were defeated by Qatar for the bronze medal.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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