Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas bows down to Mahram Iran, 80-77.
It's a bitter pill to swallow, but Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas bows down to Mahram Iran, 80-77 in the semifinals of 2011 FIBA-Asia Champions Cup. Although they lost to a more superior and better team, there's nothing to be ashamed of. We're on the right track and come September, we can give the Asian powerhouses a hell of a game. Here's the news feed of last night's match courtesy of FIBA-Asia and Manila Bulletin.
Gallant Gilas bows to Mahram-Iran in FIBA Champions Cup
Gilas Pilipinas coach gives Japeth Aguilar high marks
Gallant Gilas bows to Mahram-Iran in FIBA Champions Cup
source: fibaasia.net
Smart Gilas suffered their first defeat in the competition, a heartbreaking one at that, bowing out 77-80 to twice defending champions Mahram in the quarterfinals on Saturday, but not before giving the mighty Iranians a good run for their money.
Samad Nikkhah Bahrami converted three free-throws, on two different fouls, with less than 20 seconds on the clock to keep Mahram’s dream of a three-peat alive.
Chris Tiu almost turned that dream into an Iranian nightmare when he fired in twice in succession once from outside the perimeter and once bringing the score close to 75-77 after Mahram seemed to have taken control of the proceedings for the first time in the game.
Bahrami had led Mahram’s fourth quarter charge giving them a 7-point cushion till Tiu made those sizzlers sending the partisan and packed PhilSports Arena into delirious joy.
Bahrami scored 8 of his team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter.
The manner in which Dondon Hontiveros and Mark Barocca took turns to hustle and rustle the more accomplished rival point guard Mahdi Kamrani taking the latter to the brink of his temper in the early moments of the game was example enough for the preparations Rajko Toroman had put the Smart Gilas for the game.
As things would transpire, Kamrani had the last laugh scoring 17 points and but Mahram’s form and lead on the scoreboard was directly proportional to the time Kamrani managed to break the leash.
“I think it was our experience which helped us sail through,” said Mahram coach Mehran Shahintab.
“We (Mahram) were playing a team of this style and speed for the first time in a long time,” Shahintab said.
“All the opponents we played so far were from WABA or the Gulf. They were more or less similar in style – physical and depending on size. But this (Smart Gilas) was relying more on speed. It took time for us to get our bearings,” said the coach who earlier coached Saba Battery to back-to-back titles in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2007 and 2008.
“I’m proud of the way the boys played against a team that is stronger than the Iranian National Team,” Toroman said.
“It was a question doing our best falling short against a team which was coming up with something better all the time,” said Smart Gilas’ naturalized player Marcus Douthit who had a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds.
“We managed to box them out, but every time we boxed somebody out, somebody else came up and troubled us,” the ex-American said.
Smart Gilas have already achieved their best position yet in three appearances in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup and within the reach of their first ever medal when they play the bronze play-off on Sunday.
The Scores:
MahramIran
GilasPhilippines
Quarters: 20-21, 45-39, 62-62, 80-77
June 05, 2011 - Sunday
FINALS (Live on IBC 13)
12:00pm - (7th/8th Place Iraq
2:00pm - (5th/6th Place Jordan vs. Syria
4:00pm - (3rd/4th Place Philippines vs. Qatar
6:00pm - (Finals)Iran vs. Lebanon
Smart Gilas suffered their first defeat in the competition, a heartbreaking one at that, bowing out 77-80 to twice defending champions Mahram in the quarterfinals on Saturday, but not before giving the mighty Iranians a good run for their money.
Samad Nikkhah Bahrami converted three free-throws, on two different fouls, with less than 20 seconds on the clock to keep Mahram’s dream of a three-peat alive.
Chris Tiu almost turned that dream into an Iranian nightmare when he fired in twice in succession once from outside the perimeter and once bringing the score close to 75-77 after Mahram seemed to have taken control of the proceedings for the first time in the game.
Bahrami had led Mahram’s fourth quarter charge giving them a 7-point cushion till Tiu made those sizzlers sending the partisan and packed PhilSports Arena into delirious joy.
Bahrami scored 8 of his team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter.
The manner in which Dondon Hontiveros and Mark Barocca took turns to hustle and rustle the more accomplished rival point guard Mahdi Kamrani taking the latter to the brink of his temper in the early moments of the game was example enough for the preparations Rajko Toroman had put the Smart Gilas for the game.
As things would transpire, Kamrani had the last laugh scoring 17 points and but Mahram’s form and lead on the scoreboard was directly proportional to the time Kamrani managed to break the leash.
“I think it was our experience which helped us sail through,” said Mahram coach Mehran Shahintab.
“We (Mahram) were playing a team of this style and speed for the first time in a long time,” Shahintab said.
“All the opponents we played so far were from WABA or the Gulf. They were more or less similar in style – physical and depending on size. But this (Smart Gilas) was relying more on speed. It took time for us to get our bearings,” said the coach who earlier coached Saba Battery to back-to-back titles in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2007 and 2008.
“I’m proud of the way the boys played against a team that is stronger than the Iranian National Team,” Toroman said.
“It was a question doing our best falling short against a team which was coming up with something better all the time,” said Smart Gilas’ naturalized player Marcus Douthit who had a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds.
“We managed to box them out, but every time we boxed somebody out, somebody else came up and troubled us,” the ex-American said.
Smart Gilas have already achieved their best position yet in three appearances in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup and within the reach of their first ever medal when they play the bronze play-off on Sunday.
The Scores:
Mahram
Gilas
Quarters: 20-21, 45-39, 62-62, 80-77
June 05, 2011 - Sunday
FINALS (Live on IBC 13)
12:00pm - (7th/
2:00pm - (5th/
4:00pm - (3rd/
6:00pm - (Finals)
Gilas Pilipinas coach gives Japeth Aguilar high marks
Smart-Gilas Pilipinas head coach Rajko Toroman is giving Japeth Aguilar high marks for his performance in the ongoing 22nd FIBA-Asia Champions Cup.
The 6-foot-9 Aguilar, an athletic forward who has struggled to adapt to the Serbian mentor’s system, has been showing signs of improvement during the Nationals’ unbeaten run.
Aguilar finished with 12 points and seven boards to key the national team’s 85-80 victory over Al Jala’a Friday night at the Philsports Arena inPasig City
His free throws gave Smart-Gilas its first taste of the lead, 56-55, with 53 seconds to play in the third quarter after Gilas fell behind by 15 points, 35-20, with 5:02 left in the second period.
Because of his height and athletic ability, Toroman picked Aguilar as one of his players when the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) tabbed him as project director and eventually as coach of Smart-Gilas in 2009.
Toroman has been tough on Aguilar, be it in training or during games.
Gilas’ PBA stint helped Aguilar gain confidence.
“We did everything with Japeth the past two years, and I told him it’s now up to him,”said Toroman. “Now I have to be satisfied with him. He’s improving, his confidence is improving and he’s playing well.”
A former PBA No. 1 pick of Air21 in the 2009 PBA Rookie Draft (formerly Burger King), Aguilar became controversial when he refused to sign with the team that selected him. He finally gave in but after playing a single game, he was traded immediately to Talk ’N Text.
TNT, owned by SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, made him available for Smart-Gilas and has since played under Toroman.
Aguilar led the national team with 20 points and six rebounds in their first win when they downed Saudi Arabia-Al Ittihad, 101-69, although it was the game againstSyria
“Saudi Arabia is not in the level of Syria, which is a tough team. Hopefully he continues to improve,” Toroman said.
Smart-Gilas was playing at presstime defending two-time champion Iran-Mahram in the semifinals of the Champions Cup, followed by the match-up between Lebanon Al-Riyadi and Qatar-Al Rayyan.
Lebanon
The 6-foot-9 Aguilar, an athletic forward who has struggled to adapt to the Serbian mentor’s system, has been showing signs of improvement during the Nationals’ unbeaten run.
Aguilar finished with 12 points and seven boards to key the national team’s 85-80 victory over Al Jala’a Friday night at the Philsports Arena in
His free throws gave Smart-Gilas its first taste of the lead, 56-55, with 53 seconds to play in the third quarter after Gilas fell behind by 15 points, 35-20, with 5:02 left in the second period.
Because of his height and athletic ability, Toroman picked Aguilar as one of his players when the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) tabbed him as project director and eventually as coach of Smart-Gilas in 2009.
Toroman has been tough on Aguilar, be it in training or during games.
Gilas’ PBA stint helped Aguilar gain confidence.
“We did everything with Japeth the past two years, and I told him it’s now up to him,”said Toroman. “Now I have to be satisfied with him. He’s improving, his confidence is improving and he’s playing well.”
A former PBA No. 1 pick of Air21 in the 2009 PBA Rookie Draft (formerly Burger King), Aguilar became controversial when he refused to sign with the team that selected him. He finally gave in but after playing a single game, he was traded immediately to Talk ’N Text.
TNT, owned by SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, made him available for Smart-Gilas and has since played under Toroman.
Aguilar led the national team with 20 points and six rebounds in their first win when they downed Saudi Arabia-Al Ittihad, 101-69, although it was the game against
“Saudi Arabia is not in the level of Syria, which is a tough team. Hopefully he continues to improve,” Toroman said.
Smart-Gilas was playing at presstime defending two-time champion Iran-Mahram in the semifinals of the Champions Cup, followed by the match-up between Lebanon Al-Riyadi and Qatar-Al Rayyan.
PS: It’s better to be lucky than to be great. This summarizes the whole game.
1. With Williams and Alapag joining the team, everything will be alright.
2. Just stay more aggressive driving inside
3. Avoid over-dribbling, good spacing and ball rotation
4. A little more "diskarte" in playing the game, just like not giving foolish foul and boxing out opponents
5. Comes September, we will all rely to the luck that our team will have, we already have the way how to beat the big team just a matter of luck.
Good Luck Smart Gilas Pilipinas! Congratulations!
1. With Williams and Alapag joining the team, everything will be alright.
2. Just stay more aggressive driving inside
3. Avoid over-dribbling, good spacing and ball rotation
4. A little more "diskarte" in playing the game, just like not giving foolish foul and boxing out opponents
5. Comes September, we will all rely to the luck that our team will have, we already have the way how to beat the big team just a matter of luck.
Good Luck Smart Gilas Pilipinas! Congratulations!
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