(From GMA Kapuso Online)
Smart Gilas of the Philippines stunned highly-favored Zain of Jordan, 85-82, for a second straight win in the 21st Dubai International Tournament at the Al Ahli Club here.
Jason Ballesteros held his ground against the taller Jordanians, who played with four American imports, including naturalized player Rasheim Wright, while the rest of the RP dribblers sizzled from the outside.
Gilas fired 11 three-pointers, five of them from Chris Tiu and three courtesy of Mac Baracael, who spearheaded the Nationals' attack for a 19-10 advantage.
Wright and Sam Daghlas conspired for Zain to keep pace but the 6-foot-7 Ballesteros scored eight straight points while battling seven-footer Aman Idais and 6-foot-10 Ashante Johnson underneath the rim to give Gilas a 61-47 lead.
“Zain is composed of players from the Jordan national team with four American imports. With the way we are playing, I believe we can be competitive with the best teams in Asia,'' said RP coach Rajko Toroman.
It marked the first time the RP team defeated Jordan in an international tournament since the 2007 Fiba-Asia Championship.
Coach Chot Reyes and his PBA-backed RP team lost to Jordan in the qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Gilas, which led from start to finish, continued to put on the heat with Japeth Aguilar, Mark Barroca, JVee Casio and JR Cawaling shooting splendidly from the perimeter.
Wright, Zain's leading scorer who exploded for 32 points against An Nasr the other night, sprained his left foot just a minute gone by in the fourth.
But it didn't stop the Jordanians from mounting a comeback as Daghlas nailed three triples, Ayman Idais scored on an undergoal stab and Damien Cantrell converted a put-back to keep it close, 76-79, with two minutes left.
Gilas reinforcement Jamal Sampson, who was used sparingly due to an injured left knee, finished off the Jordanians after completing a three-point play, 82-76, 48.9 second to go.
Another PBA selection mentored by Yeng Guiao lost twice to the same Jordan squad in the Jones Cup and 2009 Fiba-Asia Championship.
The Scores:
SMART GILAS 85 — Tiu 17, Ballesteros 12, Baracael 12, Barroca 12, Aguilar 9, Sampson 9, Casio 8, Cawaling 5, Lassiter 1, Ababou 0.
ZAIN 82 — Daghlas 19, Wright 16, Johnson 15, Dais 12, Cantrell 10, Soobzokov 10.
Quarterscores: 19-17; 44-37; 66-56; 85-82
Smart Gilas of the Philippines stunned highly-favored Zain of Jordan, 85-82, for a second straight win in the 21st Dubai International Tournament at the Al Ahli Club here.
Jason Ballesteros held his ground against the taller Jordanians, who played with four American imports, including naturalized player Rasheim Wright, while the rest of the RP dribblers sizzled from the outside.
Gilas fired 11 three-pointers, five of them from Chris Tiu and three courtesy of Mac Baracael, who spearheaded the Nationals' attack for a 19-10 advantage.
Wright and Sam Daghlas conspired for Zain to keep pace but the 6-foot-7 Ballesteros scored eight straight points while battling seven-footer Aman Idais and 6-foot-10 Ashante Johnson underneath the rim to give Gilas a 61-47 lead.
“Zain is composed of players from the Jordan national team with four American imports. With the way we are playing, I believe we can be competitive with the best teams in Asia,'' said RP coach Rajko Toroman.
It marked the first time the RP team defeated Jordan in an international tournament since the 2007 Fiba-Asia Championship.
Coach Chot Reyes and his PBA-backed RP team lost to Jordan in the qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Gilas, which led from start to finish, continued to put on the heat with Japeth Aguilar, Mark Barroca, JVee Casio and JR Cawaling shooting splendidly from the perimeter.
Wright, Zain's leading scorer who exploded for 32 points against An Nasr the other night, sprained his left foot just a minute gone by in the fourth.
But it didn't stop the Jordanians from mounting a comeback as Daghlas nailed three triples, Ayman Idais scored on an undergoal stab and Damien Cantrell converted a put-back to keep it close, 76-79, with two minutes left.
Gilas reinforcement Jamal Sampson, who was used sparingly due to an injured left knee, finished off the Jordanians after completing a three-point play, 82-76, 48.9 second to go.
Another PBA selection mentored by Yeng Guiao lost twice to the same Jordan squad in the Jones Cup and 2009 Fiba-Asia Championship.
The Scores:
SMART GILAS 85 — Tiu 17, Ballesteros 12, Baracael 12, Barroca 12, Aguilar 9, Sampson 9, Casio 8, Cawaling 5, Lassiter 1, Ababou 0.
ZAIN 82 — Daghlas 19, Wright 16, Johnson 15, Dais 12, Cantrell 10, Soobzokov 10.
Quarterscores: 19-17; 44-37; 66-56; 85-82
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