Gilas fades in OT, bows to Kazakhs

DOHA, Qatar – Smart Gilas Pilipinas continued to struggle in the absence of several key players and fell to Kazakhstan, 71-77, in overtime for its second straight setback in the 21st FIBA-Asia Champions Cup at the Al Gharafa Sports Club here Monday night.

The Astana Tigers of Kazakhstan used their height advantage and pounded the Filipinos inside the paint, particularly in the extra period where they dominated the Nationals to the disappointment of the hordes of Filipino fans who packed the venue.

“We didn’t play good, we didn’t play smart basketball,” said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman.

Chris Tiu and Mark Barroca alternated in directing the plays for Team RP in the absence of JV Casio and JR Cawaling for almost 40 minutes and wound up with 17 and 14 points, respectively.

Serbian import Milan Vucicevic fired 13 points and eight rebounds but the Kazakhs simply imposed their strength off the boards, pulling down 48 rebounds, including 20 on the offensive end as against the Filipinos’ 39.

Casio, the top guard in the import-laden Dubai Invitational where RP finished third, is out with a torn MCL while Cawaling has a swollen right knee.

Fil-Am Marcio Lassiter, one of the team’s top defenders, also didn’t join the team here due to knee injury.

“After the US, we said that we have some problems, it was obvious. That showed on the friendly games against Sta. Lucia and Talk n Text,” said Toroman.

“We had a lot of problems with the injuries and I think that our shape was not on the level we showed in Dubai, Australia, Serbia and US. The bad shape came in a wrong time for us,” he added.

“We showed a lot of heart but we couldn’t execute in some crucial moments. It’s a learning experience for us,” said Tiu.

It was Smart Gilas’ second straight defeat following a 58-86 blowout at the hands of host Al Rayyan of Qatar Sunday.

The Filipinos now must beat Dusok of Iraq on Wednesday to clinch the No. 4 spot in Group A and advance to the quarterfinals.

Smart Gilas was playing heavy favorite Mahram of Iran, which boasts of former NBA veterans Loren Woods and Jackson Vroman, at press time.

Against the Iranians, Toroman said he would go for the same rotation that worked successfully in their trips in Dubai, Australia, Serbia and the United States minus Casio, Lassiter and Cawaling.

The Iranians, meanwhile, remained unbeaten as they blasted the Iraqis, 109-68, while Al Riyadi of Lebanon downed Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, 83-77, and ASU of Jordan trounced Al Jalaa of Syria, 78-64, in Group B action.

Doha notes: The Kazakhstan game is the first for Smart Gilas and the loss should be a lesson for the latter as it primes up for a possible rematch with the former in this year’s Asian Games...Unknown to many, the Philippines has the most title in this annual import-laced tournament, considered the strongest club tournament in Asia, with four championships. Iran, tied at second with China and Lebanon with three apiece, is going all out to match RP’s feat...Chris Tiu said he is impressed with Al Nasr’s American reinforcement Jones Bernard. It’s hard to blame him after the 6-11 Bernard came out with huge numbers of 20 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks, four steals and an assist in a 74-90 loss to powerhouse ASU of Jordan. “And he’s playing in a team without a real system, what more if he plays for a team with a system,” said Tiu.