Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas bows down to Iran, 77-60.

TOKYO – Smart Gilas Pilipinas went scoreless in a crucial stretch in the second half and failed to recover, botching a shot at the FIBA Asia Cup finals with a 60-77 loss to Iran at the Ota Gymnasium here today.

The Nationals were down by only three at 47-50 before going on a dry spell for over four minutes, allowing the Iranians to build momentum for the 17-point victory and a crack at the coveted crown.

Host Japan and Qatar were playing for the other final berth as of posting time.

Numerous lapses dogged the Filipinos early on, preventing them from sustaining the heat of their 17-11 start.

A fourth foul drawn by Marcus Douthit with 8:06 left followed by the fifth and final of backup center Sonny Thoss moments later doomed Gilas.

The Nationals, however, still have a chance to improve on their fourth-place finish in Beirut in 2010, going for third place against the loser of the Japan-Qatar match at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The Iranians threw the Filipinos off balance, holding Douthit down to 11 points and seven rebounds and forcing Gilas to commit 23 huge turnovers.

Douthit and guards LA Tenorio, Gabe Norwood and Jarred Dillinger accounted for at least four errors each, giving the Gilas no chance of winning against the tall, organized Iranian team under Slovenian coach Memhet Becirovic.

“We analyzed all the Philippine games. We knew we have to put pressure on defense. If we can play good defense, we have a good chance to beat them,” said Oshin Sahakian, one of five Iran players who gave fits with at least 12 points each.

“Yes, Iran had a great defensive game plan. In the end, basketball is about putting the basket in the hoops. We combined for just 7-of-23 three-point shooting. If we can’t make our outside shots, we really don’t have a chance of winning against this excellent team,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes.

Playing brilliantly in one stretch and crappy in another stretch, the Filipinos fought the Iranians to a 30-deadlock in the first half.

Gilas enjoyed a six-point cushion at 17-11 on a 14-3 assault but lost it as quickly on a scoreless spell in the next three minutes of play.

The Nationals just couldn’t hit big strides early on, dogged by numerous lapses by backcourt players Gabe Norwood, LA Tenorio and Jarred Dillinger.

The Iranians, however, couldn’t establish a good rhythm themselves on their poor 1-of-8 three-point shooting and 7-of-11 free throws in the first 20 minutes of play.

Earlier, China crushed Lebanon, 78-63, and Chinese Taipei whipped Uzbekistan, 86-70, to arrange a duel for fifth place.

The scores:

Iran 77 – Afagh 14, Jamshidi 13, Kardoust 13, Bahrami 12, Sahakian 12, Davoud 6, Arghavan 6, Foroutan 1.

Philippines 60 – Tenorio 13, Dillinger 13m Douthit 11, Chan 5, Fonacier 5, De ocampo 4, Norwood 4, Villanueva 3, David 2, Ganuelas 0, Thoss 0, Reyes 0.

Quarterscores: 16-17, 30-30, 53-47, 77-60


by Nelson Beltran | philstar.com

Sniff, sniff! T_T