Smart Gilas Pilipinas defeated Talk N Text Tropang Texters in 2011 PBA Commish Cup.

Chris Tiu, skipper of the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas, said their participation in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup is an opportunity for the national team to display their skills before their countrymen.

“Not much of the Filipinos could watch our games abroad. So this is this a great chance for them to watch us play,” said the 6-feet-1 guard.

Certainly, head coach Chot Reyes and his Tropang Texters weren’t glad to have Nationals as their first assignment.

Marcus Douthit scored 16 points and grabbed a season-high 26 rebounds as Smart-Gilas Pilipinas outplayed Talk ‘N Text, 103-98, Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Nationals who wore down the Tropang Texters by constantly running up and down the court, turned the game wiped out a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter and turned the game around with a 15-3 run.

“I’m happy it’s over with and I’m happy that we won against [the all-Filipino champions].

Hope we can carry on in the next game,” said Douthit, who made TNT’s big men looked like dwarfs with his 6-foot-11 frame.

A candidate for naturalization, the 30-year old Douthit was practically a monster in the paint. He had five blocks and altered many shots.

“I struggled offensively but my teammates picked me up. Tonight it was just rebounds for me. Maybe I’ll be more offensive-minded next time,” said the big fellow.

With his dominating presence, Smart-Gilas Pilipinas coach Rajko Toroman said they could have easily turned to Douthit everytime they had the ball.

But we are not doing that because we are trying to develop a system that will work in the FIBA Asia. [FIBA Asia] is not dominated by height and that is the reason why share the ball consistently,” Toroman explained.

Their unselfishness paved the way for seven of 12 the Nationals to score in double figures.

Marcio Lassiter, a 6-6 forward with a soft-touch from the perimeter, matched Douthit’s output on 7 of 14 shooting while Tiu and John Aldrech Ramos had 15 apiece.

Joseph Casio had 14 points and Andy Barroca added 13. The point guards also combined for 11 feeds as the Nationals gained a 27-21 edge in the assists department.

Playing abroad the past two years obviously worked well for the Nationals, who appeared confident playing against the reigning Philippine Cup champions.

It showed when they raced to a 17-3 lead just halfway through the opening quarter.

Good thing Talk 'N Text’s bench outscored the Nationals’ reserves, 15-2, to keep the game close after 12 minutes.

Talk 'N Text import Paul Harris led all scorers with 25 points but he was the only consistent player among the Tropang Texters.

Ranidel de Ocampo scored 18 points but had only five in the second half. Kelly Williams collected 14 but was scoreless in the fourth. Jimmy Alapag had only six points and a season-low one assist, his worst game in a long while.

It’s a big win for us,” said Toroman, adding his players showed lots of character
particularly in the endgame.

As a team, TNT shot only 40 percent from the field (38 of 95) and missed 11 free throws.

Still, the Tropang Texters appeared headed for a victory when De Ocampo scored on a lay-up to give the Tropang Texters a 91-84 lead with 6:30 left in the fourth.

Douthit scored on fastbreak slam in the ensuing play and after Talk 'N Text missed on a 3-point attempt and two free throws on their next two possessions, Ramos scored on a lay-up then knocked an eight-foot jumper to make it a one-point game.

After a two minute scoring spell, De Ocampo completed a three-point play to stretch the lead to 94-90 before the Nationals went on a 9-0 run in 2:30 minutes to take control. (DBC)

The scores:

Smart Gilas-Pilipinas 103 - Lassiter 16, Douthit 16, Tiu 15, Ramos 15, Casio 14, Barroca 13, Barracael 12, Lutz 2, Ballesteros 0, Slaughter 0, Ababou 0.

Talk ‘N Text 98 - Harris 25, De Ocampo 18, Williams 14, Castro 13, Fonacier 10, Carey 6, Alapag 6, Peek 6, Dillinger 0, Reyes 0.

Quarterscores: 28-25, 50-51, 78-80, 103-98


103 vs. 98


Photos by Nuki Sabio | PBA






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