Smart Gilas Pilipinas smothers Chinese Taipei and book FIBA ASIA semis

Smart-Gilas Pilipinas surprise team Chinese Taipei and end a 24-year semifinal drought in FIBA tourney thus gave millions of Filipino fans back home a lot to cheer by with an impressive come from behind victory against a dangerous Taiwanese team with the score of 95-78. 

Naturalized center Marcus Douthit once again proved his dominance with game-highs on either end of the floor and with the support of JV Casio who sparked the Filipino rally tonight and all the around Filipino offense which put them in the semifinals for the 12th time in FIBA Asia Championship – but only the first time since the 1987 edition at Bangkok, where the team finished fourth.

“It’s a fantastic feeling,” gushed Philippines coach Rajko Toroman. 

“This (the win) shows this team has the ability to make history. Philippines team is in the semifinals after such a long time. I think we have the ability to go all the way,” he said.

“I think we didn’t control the rebounds well in the first quarter,” said Douthit who poured in a massive 37 points and collected 10 rebounds.

“We didn’t control their shooters. We gave them too many second chance points,” he added.

“It’s a dream moment. Playing for the National Team and making the semifinals of this competition is a dream come true,” said Ranidel De Ocampo who scored 18 points and collected 5 rebounds besides dishing out 3 assists.

“We were outplayed by a better team.

There’s no doubt in that,” said Taipei coach. 

Philipines will face a different and more confident and inspired Jordanian squad which stunned the two time defending champion and Asian powerhouse team Iran. 

FIBA-ASIA

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Douthit leads a successful and spirited Filipino rally

WUHAN, China (26th FIBA Asia Championship): Naturalized center Marcus Douthit raised the bar of his performance to the next level in the second half, and with the ‘just cleared’ Marcio Lassiter playing a very good second fiddle, Philippines rallied from a first half stutter to beat Jordan 72-64 in a pivotal Group F game on Monday.

Jordan ran the floor, and rolled the dice, for the entire first half and even seemed to head towards what would have been an unsurprising victory.

Sam Daghlas (white jersey in pic above) shelved all doubts about his injury and led the Jordanian offense from the front with 9 points in the first quarter, but would go on to add only as many over the next three quarters.

Douthit (blue jersey in pic above) on the other had rose in performance and confidence as the game progressed.

The 211-cm Providence alumnus who had merely 4 rebounds and as many points in the first half, went on to lead the game in scoring – with 19 points – and rebounds – with 15 collections.

The form, or the lack of it, of these two players was a synopsis of the way the pendulum swung in the game.

“I think we showed a lot of character,” said Philippines guard Chris Tiu, who dished out a game-high 4 assists.

Philippines’ cause received a shot in the arm, when Lassiter – along with Chris Lutz – was cleared to don the Filipino colors.

The 188-cm guard made his appearance at the start of the second quarter, and went on to score 14 points – six of them in the third quarter, when Philippines began their rally.

“I think this was the biggest win of life, considering the circumstances,” said Philippines coach Rajko Toroman.

“We are not mentally as tough as we have to be,” rued Jordan coach Tab Baldwin.

“I know I am saying this for the second game on the trot, but then that is what it is,” he added.

“We didn’t what we had to on Marcus. In the first half managed to keep him under check, but we lost the grip as the game went on,” Baldwin said.

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