SMART Gilas-Pilipinas fell for the second straight time in the 24th Dubai International Basketball Tournament on Monday, taking a 65-75 loss at the hands of Sporting Amarex of Jordan at Al Ahli Club gym in Dubai.
Alpha Bangura, who played two conferences as an import for Air21 in the PBA, and Darrin Dorsey, led the Jordanians, whom coach Chot Reyes said were too tough for the “kids” he brought to the tough tournament.
The Philippines thus ended elimination round with a 1-2 card, its only win scored against Al Mouttahed, 79-77, last Saturday.
The Filipinos will play Sagasse of Lebanon in the crossover quarterfinals.
“Tried hard, but Dorsey and Bangura just too good, too experienced for our kids. But we fought till d end,” Reyes posted his Twitter account.
Meanwhile, the PBA Commissioner’s Office will propose to the board a resolution that would have at least one player from each of the 10 PBA teams to be included in the Gilas-Pilipinas team that will play in the Fiba-Asia Qualifying tournament in August.
It is not known, however, how the new proposal would sit with Reyes. Musong R. Castillo