Smart Gilas five rips Bahrain, gains second round

WUHAN, China—Smart Gilas Pilipinas broke the game wide open in the third quarter and crushed Bahrain, 113-71, Saturday at the end of the preliminary round of the Fiba Asia Championship at the Wuhan Gymnasium.

Japeth Aguilar delivered 14 of his game-high 21 points in the third quarter where the Nationals unloaded a 35-7 blitz to take an 86-47 lead going into the final period.

The Filipinos notched their second win in three games to secure second spot in Group D less than 15 hours after absorbing China’s wrath in a 75-60 loss Friday night.

Smart Gilas takes a one-day break today before returning to action in the second round tomorrow against Group C qualifiers Japan, Jordan and Syria.

“We used this game to build up the confidence of the players,” said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman, still upbeat despite the loss to the host Chinese.

“We honestly didn’t expect that Marcio (Lassiter) and Chris (Lutz) wouldn’t play (against China). With the two, we could beat them,” added Toroman.

The certifications of the Filipino citizenship of Lassiter and Lutz from the Department of Foreign Affairs have already reached the office of Fiba secretary general Patrick Baumann in Switzerland, according to Philippine Olympic Committee chair Monico Puentevella.

He said the team is confident Fiba will eventually clear the two players, who have yet to play after their eligibility was questioned during the team managers’ meeting last Wednesday.

Smothering Bahrain without a field goal for five minutes, Smart Gilas unloaded 19 straight points capped by a one-handed Aguilar dunk, transforming a 51-40 halftime lead to a 30-point spread midway in the third.

“I sat on the bench and looked at my opponents. I seriously thought that I could outrun these guys,” said Aguilar, who went eight of 10 from the field and had 12 rebounds, four of them offensive boards.

Marcus Douthit had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Filipinos, who ruled the boards, 54-15. The Nationals went 41 of 65 from the field (63 percent) but had 18 turnovers against Bahrain’s 13.

Bader Malabes, a former La Salle standout, scattered 15 points to pace Bahrain.

The scores:
PHILIPPINES 113—Aguilar 21, Douthit 18, Casio 15, Taulava 13, De Ocampo 13, Baracael 11, Tiu 10, Barroca 8, Alapag 2, Williams 2.
BAHRAIN 71—Malabes 15, Sarhan 13,  Mahri 11, Ali 8, Isa 7, Khamis 7, Akber 6, Mubarak 2, Malallah 2.
Quarters: 30-18, 51-40, 86-47, 113-71