GILAS PILIPIAS LOSES TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN A RUGGED GAME
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 26 Aug 2014
In their final tune-up game before the FIBA World Cup which opens in Spain on August 30, Smart Gilas lost to a rough Dominican Republic team in a rugged, hard-fought game 86-79 in Guadalajara, early Tuesday morning Manila Time.
Under new head coach Orlando Antigua and with solid contributions from big man Jack Martinez and newcomer James Felfdeine who helped the team clinch a spot in the World Cup since their last entry in 1978, the Dominicans were tested to the limit by the gallant Filipinos who forged a 21-all deadlock at the end of the first quarter before going down by four at the half, 48-44.
The taller and physically stronger Dominican Republic squad moved ahead by ten points on an 8-0 run in the third quarter, 56-46 but with PBA MVP Junmar Fajardo not willing to be manhandled by the Dominicans and fighting back ferociously, Gilas Pilipinas closed to within three points at 57-54 going into the final quarter.
Inspired by the toughness of Fajardo and lanky Japethy Aguilar and the superb play of Gabe Norwood who scored on a slam dunk plus a triple from point guard LA Tenorio followed by another booming three from sweet=shooting lefty Jeff Chan pushed the Philippines in front 68-67 before Houston Rockets point guard Francisco Garcia regained the lead for the Dominicans with a basket before former US NCAA star Edgar Sosa also a point guard who played for the University of Louisville Cardinals joined Garcia to give the Dominicans a four point cushion at 73-69.
Smart Gilas hung tough behind Norwood who buried a couple of triples to bring the Filipinos to within two points at 80-78 in the last two minutes of the game before a 6-1 run by the Dominican Republic helped them win by seven points, 86-79.
In an exclusive overseas telephone conversation with the Manila Standard/Viva Sports coach Chot Reyes jokingly referred to the game as one that reminded him of the physicality of the PBA.
Reyes commended his players saying ?they played really well and battled them really hard? adding ?we were itching to fight? referring to a near scuffle involving Ranidel de Ocampo in the first half which forced Reyes to pull him out and keep him out for the rest of the game because he sensed the Dominican Republic players were out to get him.
Reyes said their opponents were guilty of throwing elbows with 6?7? power forward involved in the action. A write-up on Martinez said he ?provides points in the low post, collects plenty of rebounds and fights to the death. When he plays no one on the court is more combative.?
Reyes also pulled out Jimmy Alapag while the injured Jason Castro who didn?t see action following an Achilles injury was ?running hard and doing drills? which indicated he would be ready when the Philippines plays Croatia in their opening World Cup game in Seville.
Reyes said ?if we got a couple of breaks we could have even won the game? even as he praised big men Fajardo and Aguilar as well as Gary David ?who all played really well.?
He considered the game ?a good way to finish? the Gilas Pilipinas preparation pointing out that ?we held our own against a good, tough team with speedy guards.?
Former Talk N? Text coach Bill Bayno was the assistant coach of the Dominicans.
Reyes indicated the players will rest tomorrow after which they will have three days of practice before the game against Croatia in which the head coach said ?I am hoping for an upset. The game against Croatia is our best chance and hope we can beat Senegal and then see what happens.?
Gabe Norwood who has been consistent throughout had his best game so far finishing with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists while naturalized NBA player Andray Blatche scored 16 points with LA Tenorio contributing 10.
Dominican Republic (86) ? Feldeine 15, Martinez 14. Vargas 12, Liz 11, Garcia 10, Sosa 8, Coronado 5, Sueno 4, Santana 4, Sanchez 2, Ramon 0.
Gilas Pilipinas (79) ? Norwood 17, Blatche 16, Tenorio 10, Chan 8, David 7, Lee 7, Fajardo 6, Pingris 4, Aguilar 3, Alapag 1, De Ocampo 0.
Quarterscores: 21-21, 48-44, 57-54, 86-79.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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