Gilas trips Taiwan, faces Iran; China out

TOKYO – Smart Gilas Pilipinas groped for its old, competitive form three-fourths of the way before repulsing Chinese-Taipei, 75-68, to advance to the Final Four of the fourth FIBA Asia Cup at the Ota Gymnasium here Thursday.

 The Nationals picked up some rhythm in the payoff period after a listless start following a two-day layoff and easy outings against Macau and Uzbekistan, going on to get past the Taiwanese and set up a semifinal meeting with Middle East super power Iran Friday.

“We played our worst game and we just found a way to win in the end,” said national coach Chot Reyes.

“Even before the game, I felt we’ve lost our edge on our two easy games (versus Macau and Uzbekistan) followed by a two-day break. At the dugout, I told the guys we have to be patient, and that’s what happened,” Reyes also said.

Reyes, however, was hopeful the game against the Taiwanese would make them better for the semis against Iran.

“We have to play 10 times better for Iran. We have to rebound and shoot well to force them out of their comfort zone. If we don’t make our shots, they would not play us man-to-man. We won’t be able to tire their big men out playing zone,” Reyes said.

To Iran hotshot Samad Bahrami, the Iran-Philippines match is the de facto finale of the tourney.

“Whoever wins that match goes on to win the championship,” said Bahrami whose team breezed past Uzbekistan, 79-37, to make the semis.

Smart Gilas got a chance to surpass the country’s fourth-place finish in Beirut in 2010 as the Nationals picked up their game in the fourth quarter, coming through with a crucial 17-4 run to repeat their conquest of the Taiwanese in their Jones Cup faceoff.

LA Tenorio, Marcus Douthit, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jeff Chan and Gary David worked on that key assault, allowing the Nationals to survive 21 turnovers and an incredible 6-of-8 three-point shooting of Taiwanese-American player Douglas Creighton.

“It’s back to Jones Cup the only time we had that much of errors in a game. Six came from Jared (Dillinger) who’s in his first international tournament with us. He’s not yet used to the traveling (violation) calls by the international refs,” said Reyes.

“That Taiwanese-American player was not in our scouting report. He’s hardly used in the Jones Cup and in their early games here. Suddenly, he had that hot shooting game,” said Gilas assistant coach Joshua Reyes.

The Nationals played an ugly first three quarters before hitting their stride, getting a 71-57 cushion on a 17-4 run.

Still, the gritty Taiwanese never gave up, stringing up the next nine points to come to within five, 66-71, with 1:52 left to play.

The Filipinos finally shoved the Taiwanese aside as Dillinger took a steal then Tenorio canned two free throws to make it 75-66 inside the final minute.

“We would’ve been crying in the end if it were Iran. We’re rusty and played an ugly game. We really just found a way to win in the end,” said Gilas assistant coach Jong Uichico.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan felt the same.

Pangilinan was with SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas, executive director Sonny Barrios and PBA officials Chito Salud, Robert Non, Mon Segismundo, Ely Capacio, Pato Gregorio, Rickie Santos and Willie Marcial on the gallery cheering for the Nationals. Also in the venue in the VIP row was Ambassador Manolo Lopez.

The Taiwanese had their own throng witnessing the game that was close most of the way even with the Nationals dominating the boards, 50-31.

Douthit accounted for 18 rebounds in another mammoth game also marked by 19 points, four blocks, two steals and one assist in 37:46 of action.

David knocked in four treys and finished with 14 points while De Ocampo, Larry Fonacier and Tenorio combined for 28 markers.

Host Japan and Qatar surged past China and Lebanon, respectively, to arrange their own semis duel.

Naturalized player Clinton Fihnoir Johnson III piled up 28 points and Qatar held down Fadi El-Khatib to 12 in topping Lebanon, 79-72, while Japan played a balanced game and ripped China, 60-50.

The Philippines and Iran play at 4:30 p.m. then Japan and Qatar battle at 7 p.m.