Even a blistering JV Casio was not enough for Smart Gilas Pilipinas to extinguish the hot-shooting South Koreans, as the Nationals yielded, 70-78, Wednesday night in the 33rd William Jones Cup at the Hsinchuang gymnasium in Taiwan.
The former De La Salle University standout flared up with 25 points—15 in the third quarter alone—to spark a Smart Gilas comeback from 11 points down but it was put to waste nonetheless by crucial turnovers down the stretch that proved too costly for the Philippines, which absorbed its second setback in five games.
Trailing by just four, 70-74 with 1:57 left, Marcio Lassiter stole the ball off a weak pass from Korea but coughed up the opportunity as he was called for traveling trying to get a hold of the leather.
Korea, which remained as the only unbeaten team at 5-0, quickly pounced the Philippines in the ensuing play with seven-foot-three Ha Seung-Jin scoring on a putback slam that gave his squad a two-possession lead, 76-70.
Not out of it yet, Smart Gilas though would commit back to back errors both off errant passes that ultimately sealed the win for Korea.
The Nationals stared at a 33-44 deficit before Casio, who sat out against Malaysia along with Marcus Douthit, found his touch.
Mac Baracael got the Philippines back in control, 49-48, off a follow up on Casio’s miss that capped off a 14-4 run.
Douthit scored Smart Gilas’ first seven points en route to a quiet outing as he was limited due to foul trouble.
The six-foot-11 banger was controversially called with his fourth foul nearing the six-minute mark of the payoff period with both teams knotted at 63-all.
With Douthit on the sidelines, Korea pounded the ball inside and pummeled the Philippines with sneaky short stabs.
Smart Gilas Pilipinas played a forgetful fourth quarter, shooting only 33 percent from the field while committing five turnovers.