GUANGZHOU—The Smart Gilas Pilipinas five, riding on the heroics of its PBA reinforcements, downed the Dongguan Century Leopards, 79-65, Thursday in a tuneup game two days before the start of the 16th Asian Games basketball competition here.
Power forward Kelly Williams scattered 18 points and Asi Taulava had double-double figures of 15 points and 15 rebounds as the Nationals bounced back from a 75-87 defeat to the Guangdong Tigers on Wednesday night.
Sol Mercado, playing with a limp due to a contusion on his left ankle, contributed seven points and delivered several pivotal plays down the stretch.
“We are ready for Kuwait,” said Smart Gilas assistant coach Allan Gregorio. “There are little adjustments that we must improve on but the team is upbeat.”
Shooting guard Marcio Lassiter had 14 points while forward Mac Baracael added 13 for Smart Gilas, which will face Kuwait in the first round tomorrow.
One of the respectable teams in the Chinese Basketball Association, the Dongguan Leopards paraded NBA veteran Jackson Vroman and Nigerian import Josh Emmanuel Akognon.
Meanwhile, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala confirmed that Samad Nikkah Bahrami, Iran’s leading scorer, will not play for the reigning Asian champions, after all.
Eala also said that Hamed Haddadi of the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA is a doubtful Asiad entry, dousing the fear of Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman that the Iranians will bring the core of their championship team.
Smart Gilas will face Iran in the second round if the Filipinos hurdle Kuwaitis.