THE SMART GILAS Pilipinas five lost steam in the last quarter and dropped the bronze-medal match to Qatar, 80-75, Sunday in the Fiba Asia Stankovic Cup in Beirut, Lebanon.
The Filipinos, who absorbed an 80-81 semifinal heartbreaker against eventual champion Lebanon Saturday, sputtered down the stretch after moving within three, 56-59, to wind up fourth in the 10-team field.
The finish clinched for the RP five an automatic berth in the tougher Fiba Asia Championship next year.
“I am truly satisfied with our performance,” said coach Rajko Toroman.
It was the best performance by Smart Gilas in a continental tournament since 2008, when the national squad was formed.
The Nationals achieved the feat without key players Greg Slaughter, Chris Lutz, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and 6-foot-10 American Marcus Douthit, the team’s naturalization candidate.
Host Lebanon went on to capture the crown with a 97-59 win over Japan in the finals.
“Lebanon had the strongest team (in the tournament). But despite all the advantages they had, they beat us by only one point,” added Toroman. “Everybody here is impressed with our team.”
Mac Baracael fired four three-pointers and netted 21 points to lead four Smart Gilas players in double figures. Marcio Lassiter, with three triples, added 16 while Chris Tiu had 13.
Asi Taulava, loaned by the Coca-Cola Tigers and the PBA to the national squad, was scoreless but grabbed 11 rebounds, impressing Toroman, who appealed for two more PBA players to boost the team.
Smart Gilas stunned Fiba World Championship-bound Jordan in the eliminations and trounced Asian champion Iran in the quarterfinals.
The Filipinos, who absorbed an 80-81 semifinal heartbreaker against eventual champion Lebanon Saturday, sputtered down the stretch after moving within three, 56-59, to wind up fourth in the 10-team field.
The finish clinched for the RP five an automatic berth in the tougher Fiba Asia Championship next year.
“I am truly satisfied with our performance,” said coach Rajko Toroman.
It was the best performance by Smart Gilas in a continental tournament since 2008, when the national squad was formed.
The Nationals achieved the feat without key players Greg Slaughter, Chris Lutz, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and 6-foot-10 American Marcus Douthit, the team’s naturalization candidate.
Host Lebanon went on to capture the crown with a 97-59 win over Japan in the finals.
“Lebanon had the strongest team (in the tournament). But despite all the advantages they had, they beat us by only one point,” added Toroman. “Everybody here is impressed with our team.”
Mac Baracael fired four three-pointers and netted 21 points to lead four Smart Gilas players in double figures. Marcio Lassiter, with three triples, added 16 while Chris Tiu had 13.
Asi Taulava, loaned by the Coca-Cola Tigers and the PBA to the national squad, was scoreless but grabbed 11 rebounds, impressing Toroman, who appealed for two more PBA players to boost the team.
Smart Gilas stunned Fiba World Championship-bound Jordan in the eliminations and trounced Asian champion Iran in the quarterfinals.
The scores:
QATAR 80—Ngombo 28, Saeed 15, Daoud 11, Ndiaye 9, Salem 9, Ndour 4, Mohamed 3, A. Ali 1, M. Ali 0.
PHILIPPINES 75—Baracael 21, Lassiter 16, Tiu 13, Aguilar 10, Barroca 8, Ballesteros 4, Casio 3, Ababou 0, Taulava 0.
Quarters: 16-25, 34-40, 59-56, 80-75
QATAR 80—Ngombo 28, Saeed 15, Daoud 11, Ndiaye 9, Salem 9, Ndour 4, Mohamed 3, A. Ali 1, M. Ali 0.
PHILIPPINES 75—Baracael 21, Lassiter 16, Tiu 13, Aguilar 10, Barroca 8, Ballesteros 4, Casio 3, Ababou 0, Taulava 0.
Quarters: 16-25, 34-40, 59-56, 80-75
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