Gilas-PH tops pesky Jordan

‘DAVID VS GOLIATH’ The Philippines’ Gary David tries to get the ball around the outstretched arms of Jordan’s Ahmad Alhamarsheh in their game at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Friday night, Aug. 2, 2013. The Philippines beat Jordan, 77-71, for its second victory in as many games in Group A of the 27th FIBA-Asia Championship. They will face Chinese-Taipei, also unbeaten in their group, Saturday. Photo by NUKI SABIO/PBA IMAGE

SCRAMBLING throughout the game, Gilas Pilipinas survived its first big test last night in the 27th Fiba Asia Championship.

The Filipinos used a 17-0 charge after halftime and held their ground to down 2011 runner-up Jordan, 77-71, last night before an ecstatic crowd at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Marcus Douthit was a steady force inside despite the banging he received, Jeffrei Chan clicked from the outside, and point guard Jason Castro punched holes in the Jordanian defense as the Philippines picked up a second straight win in Group A.

Chan fired 17 points built on five three-pointers and Ranidel de Ocampo had three triples for the Filipinos, who went 12 of 27 from the quartercourt, an improvement from the 8 of 26 they made the other night when they rolled back Saudi Arabia, 78-66.

Castro added 16 points and Douthit had 11 points plus nine boards.

But the winning result was never easy for the Filipinos. They had anxious moments before pulling through to arrange a battle for group supremacy with Chinese Taipei today.

With Jordan ahead, 40-33, De Ocampo and Chan drilled back-to-back threes that sparked the decisive Gilas run.

Douthit, Castro and Japeth Aguilar then joined forces as Gilas surged ahead, 53-42, with 2:12 remaining in the third period.

Jordan’s naturalized forward Jimmy Baxter hit a triple that trimmed the gap to six halfway through the fourth, but Gabe Norwood, Castro and Chan doused the rally with another offensive onslaught.

The Taiwanese earlier improved to 2-0 with a 90-67 rout of Saudi Arabia in this tournament which rewards the top three teams with slots to the 2014 Fiba World Cup in Spain.

It was an uphill climb for Gilas right from the start. Three-pointers by Wesam Al-Sous and a Mohammad Hadrab runner that beat the shot clock gave the Jordanians an 11-point cushion halfway through the first quarter.

Hussein scored on a followup for a 10-point spread before Gilas rallied behind Douthit and Castro to cut the lead at halftime, 38-33.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan needed an extra period to beat Bahrain, 79-76, in their Group D match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The scores:

PHILIPPINES 77—Chan 17, Castro 16, De Ocampo 11, Douthit 11, Norwood 8, Aguilar 6, Alapag 3, Tenorio 3, David 2, Fonacier 0, Fajardo 0, Pingris 0.

JORDAN 71—Hadrab 19, Baxter 14, Al-Sous 13, Hussein 9, Abdeen 6, Alhamarsheh 3, Abu Ruqayah 3, Abuqoura 2, Zabhab 2.

Quarters: 16-20, 33-38, 57-47, 77-71