Smart Gilas absorbs second defeat in Dubai
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - The Smart Gilas Pilipinas cadet team suffered a second straight loss in the 24th Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Al Ahli gym in Dubai Monday, this time at the hands of Al Riyadi Jordan, 65-75.
The younger and smaller Philippine team fought gallantly throughout the game and had several chances to overtake the Jordanian club team in the game. But the dynamic duo of American imports Alpha Bangura and Darrin Dorsey proved too much for Gilas, which fell to third spot in Group B. Bangura, a former PBA import from Air 21, scattered 14 of his game-high 32 markers in the payoff period, dousing the attempted rally of Gilas late in the game.
RELATED: Lessons learned from Gilas' first loss in Dubai
But the Nationals are still in contention for the championship as they enter the quarterfinals versus the No. 1 club team in Lebanon – Emirates Sagesse Beirut Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Dubai time (11:00 p.m. Manila).
Letran star Kevin Alas led Gilas in scoring with 14 points, followed by Matt Ganuelas with 11, Garvo Lanete with 10, and Marcus Douthit and Ronjay Buenafe with six apiece. Douthit hauled down 19 boards, while undersized power forward Jake Pascual held his own against Riyadi's behemoths with four markers and six caroms.
Riyadi led by as many as 15 points, at 59-44, in the fourth quarter. Gilas made a last ditch effort to make a comeback in the last five minutes of play and came to within six points, at 57-63, on four straight free throws by Douthit. But the Jordanians countered with a 6-0 blast to secure the win.
RELATED: Gilas off to good start in Dubai, nips Lebanon
All teams will have a rest day today as the quarterfinals start on Wednesday at the Al Ahli gym.
Coach Chot Reyes met the team in his hotel room an hour after the game and talked about how each player should find the drive to uplift his game. The team will have a field trip to the desert safari later today as a team-building activity.
Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.
