Gilas rebounds, faces must-win vs Japan

CHINESE TAIPEI - Smart Gilas Pilipinas overwhelmed a young United Arab Emirates with a series of runs in the second half for a 95-60 rout yesterday in a big confidence boost for its virtual knockout match with Japan for the last semifinal berth in the William Jones Cup here.

“We played a good game and we needed this win to regain our confidence,” said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman, whose wards took a stinging 70-78 setback from a sharp-shooting Korean side at the Hsinjhuang Stadium in New Taipei City last Wednesday.

With a 4-2 card, Smart Gilas is in a must-win situation against Japan starting at 5 p.m. today to advance outright and avoid any complications from a tie or series of ties.

The Japanese stayed in the hunt with a 3-3 card after blasting Malaysia.

“I think we need this game to bounce back from our loss to Korea, the guys played well, the team played together great,” said naturalized Marcus Douthit.

The 6-10 Douthit towered above everyone else and powered his way to 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting and finished with a game-high 13 rebounds.

Fil-Ams Chris Lutz added 13 points while Marcio Lassiter and Asi Taulava made 10 points apiece for Smart Gilas, who is using the nine-day event as their final tuneup for the FIBA-Asia Championship slated Sept. 15-25 in Wuhan, China where a lone Olympic berth is at stake.

At press time, Korea is leading the tournament with a 5-0 card, host Chinese Taipei is in second with a 4-1 record and reigning back-to-back FIBA Asia champion Iran and Jordan are in joint fourth at 3-2.

The Korea-Jordan and Iran-Chinese Taipei games are being played at presstime.

“We came to win and we won while resting some of our main players, that’s our main goals going into this game,” said Toroman.

“I think UAE has two more good players not playing here but this is basically the team we’re playing in Wuhan,” said Toroman.

Against Japan, Smart Gilas faces a team composed of university standouts that has made quite an impression in the tournament.

The Japanese came a three-point shot away from upsetting the fancied Koreans and dropped a 67-69 heartbreaker Tuesday.

They, however, stunned the Jordanians, 87-70, Wednesday to stay in contention.

“Japan is a good team, they have players who never give up and they have great shooters,” said Toroman. “I think though that we have an advantage inside and we have to use that tomorrow.

“But it won’t be an easy game,” he added.