FIBA Asia Cup: Clutch Paul Lee free throws down China for bronze medal

Paul Lee’s three pressure packed free throws with no time left in the clock gave Gilas Pilipinas the bronze medal with an exciting 80-79 victory over host team China in the FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan.

Playing catch-up for most of the game, Gilas found itself in the position to win or force overtime in the game’s final play. The Leethal Weapon proved that he is at his deadliest when the game is on the line.

Lee faked out his defender for the foul and three free throws. He calmly sank all to give the Philippines a consolation win after bowing out of the gold medal match with the loss to Ira, Friday night.

There were many heroes in the bronze-medal winning performance for Gilas. Ranidel de Ocampo led the team in scoring with 18 points, Japeth Aguilar finally woke up with 14 points, LA Tenorio scored 12 points including a crucial floater late in the fourth quarter but Lee rose above all.

In Game 1 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, Lee found himself in a similar situation. However, this time he got the call and more importantly he got the free throws to fall.

With the spotlight on him and with China’s fans shouting their hearts out, Lee’s three free throws barely grazed the net on the way in.

Down 77-75 with a minute left in the game, Gilas went to Tenorio who sliced through the gut of China’s defense to score a game-tying basket. However, Japeth Aguilar committed a foul on the other end, which led to two made free throws from Kelanbaike Makan. Gilas went to Tenorio again but this time he missed on a triple. De Ocampo was then forced to commit a foul with just 18 seconds left in the game clock.

Zirui Wang could have put the game away for China from the free throw line but he missed both charities to give the Philippines one last shot.

Lee made sure that Wang would never forget those two misses from the line.

The Philippines, still reeling from their painful defeat to Iran, started the game flat as they allowed China to grab a 25-14 lead.

In the second quarter, ten straight points from Beau Belga allowed the Philippines to storm back into the game and even grab the lead, 31-28. However, China retaliated with a counter run to grab a 44-38 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, back to back baskets by Marcus Douthit tied the game at 60-all but a slam from Qi Zhou gave China a two point lead heading into the final period.

The scores:

Philippines 80: De Ocampo 18, Aguilar 14, Tenorio 12, Douthit 10, Belga 10, Lee 9, Lanete 3, Dillinger 2, Washington 2.

China 79: Makan 23, Gao 11, Tao 11, Zhou 10, Wang 9, Gu 7, Zhang 6, He 2.

Quarters: 15-25, 38-44, 60-62, 80-79