PHILIPPINES IN NERVE-WRACKING 71-70 WIN OVER JORDAN, FACES INDIA IN QUARTER FINALS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Jul 2014
Philippine head coach Chot Reyes had predicted the toughest test of Gilas Pilipinas in the group stage of the 5th FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China would be against Jordan coached by former national mentor Rajko Toroman. And Reyes was right.
A quick 15-6 run at the start of the game provided a false sense of superiority as the Jordanians clawed back to grab a five point lead down the stretch but the heroics of Ranidel de Ocampo who scored the last five points for Gilas including a heroic triple with just over 35 seconds remaining that enabled the nationals to hang on in a nerve-wracking finish cheered on by a small band of Filipino supporters in a largely empty venue.
Paul Lee once again led the way with 16 points and as coach Reyes said is making a case for inclusion in the World Cup squad in Spain.
De Ocampo finished with 14 points including four triples while Marcus Douthit who was challenged in the paint by two young Jordanian led by 6?11? Ahmad Al Dwaiiri added 13 points and 9 rebounds in a solid performance.
Jordan blew a chance to win the game in the dying seconds after LA Tenorio muffed an under-goal stab that sparked a Jordanian fastbreak but the nationals raced back in defense and rattled the Jordanians with Wesam Al Sous opting for a three point shot from the left corner when he could very well have gone inside to naturalized player Rasheim Wright who had a big second half and was visibly upset at Al Sous.
Behind a sizzling 8-2 run at the start of the second quarter, the Filipinos opened up a double-digit lead but the nationals suddenly couldn?t buy a basket scoring a mere 5 points in an eight minute stretch while Jordan uncorked a 14-3 run that enabled them to tie the game.
FIBA Asia released the quarter finals schedule with Jordan clashing with Iran in one of the keenly awaited showdowns and the Philippines taking on surprise package India.
FIBA reported that for the third time in four FIBA Asia events, WABA teams Iran and Jordan will match wits with each other with honors being shared evenly when the two go head to head in the quarterfinals of the 5th FIBA Asia Cup on Thursday.
At this very venue three years ago, Iran went into the quarterfinals of the 26th FIBA Asia Championship only to be shocked by an inspired Jordan. Two years later the two were at loggerheads once again at the 27th FIBA Asia Championship at Manila (Philippines) and this time Iran carried far too many guns en route to their third gold medal in FIBA Asia Championship history.
It will be, therefore another no-holds-barred contest when the two go head to head on Thursday.
The winners of that game will line up against the winners of another exciting contest between an effervescent India and the highly popular Gilas Pilipinas.
The top half of the draw will see hosts China take on minnows Singapore with the other quarterfinal featuring an all-East Asia clash between 27th FIBA Asia Championship semifinalist Chinese Taipei and Japan, the silver medallists at the last two editions of FIBA Asia Cup
The scores:
Gilas Pilipinas (71) ? Lee 16, De Ocampo 14, Douthit 13, Dillinger 9, Belga 7, David 4, Tenorio 4, Alas 2, Fajardo 2, Washington 0, Lanete 0, Aguilar 0.
Jordan (70) ? Al-Sous 14, Al Dwairi 13, Wright 11, Alawadi 9, Hussein 7, Eid 7, Alhamarsheh 7, Abu Ruqayah 2, Abdeen 0.
Quarterscores: 17-12, 30-30, 49-52, 71-70.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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