Jordan NT nips Smart Gilas Pilipinas NT, 75-61. PHL NT play for bronze vs SoKor NT.
JOR/PHI – Jordan outsmart Philippines, close in on Olympic debut
WUHAN (FIBA Asia Championship) – Jordan have produced another mastermind performance to book a place in the FIBA Asia Championship Final and move within a win from their first-ever appearance at an Olympic Games.
Islam Abbaas led a strong team defensive performance that held Marcus Douthit, the tournament’s leading scorer, to just nine points in the second half, and closed down the Philippines running game.
At the other end, Rasheim Wright scored 14 points in the first half when his team was ice cold, before finishing with 24, then Sam Daghles stood up in the second half, delivering 14 points, four assists and a tempo perfectly to his team’s liking as they suffocated the Philippines to claim a 75-61 victory.
Zaid Abbas added 14 points for Jordan, while Joseph Casio (15 points) provided lone support for Douthit, who compiled 21 points, 15 rebounds and three assists.
Jordan coach Tab Baldwin was pleased his team hung tough in what was an arm wrestle for the best part of 40 minutes.
“Our offensive never really settled into anything that looked great, but it was enough and our defense was really, really good,” he said.
Abbas thought it was once again a matter of discipline and sticking to the plan.
“We respected them, we didn’t think they would be an easy team,” he said. “We played the game as coach had planned for it and we won.”
Where Jordan were hot in the Quarter-Finals, they started ice cold in this game, committing seven turnovers and going 0/4 from the three-point line in the first quarter. With Douthit dominating inside with nine points, only Jordan’s switching defense managed to keep them within reach at the first break, trailing 18-12.
With Abbas and Daghles both on two fouls early in the second period and the Philippines leading by six points things looked ominous for Jordan, but their reserves stepped up on the defensive end, keeping their opponents scoreless for over five minutes to only trail 28-27 at halftime.
At the offensive end the brilliance of Wright kept Jordan’s score ticking over, albeit slowly, shooting at 45% as his team shot just 32%. The Philippines struggles were even greater, hitting just 26% of their attempts.
After another tense struggle for the first five minutes of the third quarter, Jordan’s discipline in maintaining a slow tempo to strangle the free-flowing Philippines started to pay off, an 8-2 run giving them a 46-39 advantage.
When Wright got his 20th point on the three quarter time buzzer, the margin was eight points and the Philippines desperately needed something to change the momentum.
An unsportsmanlike foul on Jordan’s Abdalla Abuqoura did just that, as three points from that play, a tip jam from Kelly Williams and Douthit’s second basket of the half brought the score to 49-48 with 6:36 to play.
Abbas responded with a clever basket inside, then he and Daghles hit three straight triples between them to blow the margin out to 12.
From there Daghles controlled the tempo and Jordan nailed their free-throws to set up their first appearance in a FIBA Asia Championship final.
Philippines forward Williams was a shattered man after the game, but knew his team has to regroup to play for the bronze medal and a place at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“Obviously Jordan came ready,” he said. “They know us, know our plays well and they had one up on us in terms of us beating them in the first round.
“We can’t hang our heads on the progress we have made. We think we have done Philippine basketball proud but we still have a chance to win a medal, and that’s something to look forward to.”
Source:FIBA-Asia
FIBA Asia 2011 Game Schedule & Results (Finals) September 25
(Battle for 7th) 1:30pm - Japan vs. Chinese Taipei
(Battle for 5th) 6:00pm - Lebanon vs. Iran
(Bronze Medal game) 3:30pm - Philippines vs. Korea
(Gold Medal Game) 8:00pm - China vs. Jordan
NOTE: FIBA Asia champion will be given an outright berth to the 2012 London Olympics; 2nd & 3rd placed teams will qualify in the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers
Islam Abbaas led a strong team defensive performance that held Marcus Douthit, the tournament’s leading scorer, to just nine points in the second half, and closed down the Philippines running game.
At the other end, Rasheim Wright scored 14 points in the first half when his team was ice cold, before finishing with 24, then Sam Daghles stood up in the second half, delivering 14 points, four assists and a tempo perfectly to his team’s liking as they suffocated the Philippines to claim a 75-61 victory.
Zaid Abbas added 14 points for Jordan, while Joseph Casio (15 points) provided lone support for Douthit, who compiled 21 points, 15 rebounds and three assists.
Jordan coach Tab Baldwin was pleased his team hung tough in what was an arm wrestle for the best part of 40 minutes.
“Our offensive never really settled into anything that looked great, but it was enough and our defense was really, really good,” he said.
Abbas thought it was once again a matter of discipline and sticking to the plan.
“We respected them, we didn’t think they would be an easy team,” he said. “We played the game as coach had planned for it and we won.”
Where Jordan were hot in the Quarter-Finals, they started ice cold in this game, committing seven turnovers and going 0/4 from the three-point line in the first quarter. With Douthit dominating inside with nine points, only Jordan’s switching defense managed to keep them within reach at the first break, trailing 18-12.
With Abbas and Daghles both on two fouls early in the second period and the Philippines leading by six points things looked ominous for Jordan, but their reserves stepped up on the defensive end, keeping their opponents scoreless for over five minutes to only trail 28-27 at halftime.
At the offensive end the brilliance of Wright kept Jordan’s score ticking over, albeit slowly, shooting at 45% as his team shot just 32%. The Philippines struggles were even greater, hitting just 26% of their attempts.
After another tense struggle for the first five minutes of the third quarter, Jordan’s discipline in maintaining a slow tempo to strangle the free-flowing Philippines started to pay off, an 8-2 run giving them a 46-39 advantage.
When Wright got his 20th point on the three quarter time buzzer, the margin was eight points and the Philippines desperately needed something to change the momentum.
An unsportsmanlike foul on Jordan’s Abdalla Abuqoura did just that, as three points from that play, a tip jam from Kelly Williams and Douthit’s second basket of the half brought the score to 49-48 with 6:36 to play.
Abbas responded with a clever basket inside, then he and Daghles hit three straight triples between them to blow the margin out to 12.
From there Daghles controlled the tempo and Jordan nailed their free-throws to set up their first appearance in a FIBA Asia Championship final.
Philippines forward Williams was a shattered man after the game, but knew his team has to regroup to play for the bronze medal and a place at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“Obviously Jordan came ready,” he said. “They know us, know our plays well and they had one up on us in terms of us beating them in the first round.
“We can’t hang our heads on the progress we have made. We think we have done Philippine basketball proud but we still have a chance to win a medal, and that’s something to look forward to.”
Source:FIBA-Asia
FIBA Asia 2011 Game Schedule & Results (Finals) September 25
(Battle for 7th) 1:30pm - Japan vs. Chinese Taipei
(Battle for 5th) 6:00pm - Lebanon vs. Iran
(Bronze Medal game) 3:30pm - Philippines vs. Korea
(Gold Medal Game) 8:00pm - China vs. Jordan
NOTE: FIBA Asia champion will be given an outright berth to the 2012 London Olympics; 2nd & 3rd placed teams will qualify in the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers
PS:From 9th place in 2007 to 8th place in 2009 and now, a possible 3rd or 4th place in 2011. It's a big achievement for the Philippine Basketball Team. Even though we failed to reach the finals, we're still proud of you. It's not yet our time to become the kings of Asian Basketball, this will serve as catalyst for our dominance for the years to come. We still believe! We're one team, it's Team Pilipinas! AHOO3x!
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