DOHA, Qatar — Tinalo ng Smart Gilas Pilipinas ang Al Hilal ng Saudi Arabia sa overtime, 100-95, para angkinin ang pang pitong puwesto sa 21st FIBA-Asia Champions Cup dito sa Al Gharafa Sports Club Hall.
Nagtala si co-skipper Mark Barroca ng 24 points, 5 assists, 4 steals at 4 rebounds, habang nag-ambag naman si team captain Chris Tiu ng 18 marka, tampok rito ang perpektong 10-of-10 shooting sa foul line.
“We did not play on the same level in Dubai where we finished third place because of injuries,” wika ni Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman. “This means that we need to be patient and refresh our players so that we’ll be different in playing in our next competition.”
Magbabalik sa bansa ang Nationals na pawang sugatan.
Nagkaroon ng injury sina Tiu, Barroca at Mac Baracael, habang hindi naman nakalaro sina JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter at JR Cawaling sa naturang annual import-laden tournament.
“After Dubai, maybe we’re trying too hard because we played good there but this tournament showed that everybody is playing well and is preparing for the Asian Games,” sabi ni Toroman. “And I think that be a warning for us that we need to work harder, play harder.”
Ikinarangal naman ni Talk N Text mentor Chot Reyes ang RP team.
“I am not alarmed because one, the tournament doesn’t mean anything, two, it’s a club competition where teams are allowed two imports each,” ani Reyes. “While, of course, we want to win, our participation there is for training purposes first and foremost. It gives our players extra international exposure and allows the coaching staff to assess where we’re at towards our goal, which is the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship.”