Gilas storms into Dubai cagefest quarterfinals

DUBAI — Smart Gilas Pilipinas kept its cool amid dirty plays and “homecourt calls" as it eked out an emotional 79-72 victory over a rough Al Nasr of the UAE Monday night to reach the quarterfinals of the 21st Dubai Invitational at the Al Ahli Indoor Stadium.

The Nationals made the right plays at the right time and the big shots at the crucial stretch of the game to nail their third straight win following an opening day loss to Al Jalaa of Syria. The Filipinos, who played without Rabeh Al-Hussaini (studies), Aldrech Ramos (respiratory) and Dylan Ababou (fractured nose), had to endure some roughhouse tactics from Al Nasr and bum calls from the hometown referees. In fact, skipper Chris Tiu ended up with a busted lip and bruises on his chest and legs while JV Casio received a wayward elbow to the face from Khalal Msebah. It didn’t help that the host team was the direct beneficiary of calls as it was awarded 27 free throws and making 19 of it while RP got only seven trips to the line, making just five. Thankfully, the Filipinos stayed focused and kept their composure as they hit the shots that mattered, highlighted by clutch triples by Tiu, Mac Baracael and Casio that kept Al Nasr at bay. “I expected this tough game from the domestic team and I also felt we showed a great heart in this tournament in the very difficult moment. We didn’t lose our mind, we were focused and we made some crucial three-point shots," said RP Gilas’ Serbian coach Rajko Toroman. “And I think it’s very important for this young team to experience this kind of game because we know domestic referees will push for the domestic team and I’m very satisfied (with how they handled it)," he added. The Filipinos are currently second in Group B behind Al Jalaa, which is unbeaten with a 3-0 (win-loss) slate, and ahead of Zain of Jordan, which carries a 2-1 record. The Syrians, who beat the Jamal Sampson-less Filipinos, 90-76, Friday, and the Jordanians, bronze medalists in the 2009 FIBA-Asia Championships who lost to RP, 82-85, Sunday, play each other Wednesday (1 a.m. Manila time) for the top seeding. If Smart Gilas will end up as second seed, it will play the No. 3 seed, which could be Al Jazeera of Egypt or the national team of the United Arab Emirates, both carding 1-2 marks. Elbowed and all, Casio still spewed 16 points he laced with four booming triples, including one with 1:49 to go that broke a 72-all deadlock and the hearts of Al Nasr as they couldn’t score the rest of the way. Jamal Sampson, playing minimal minutes, bulldozed his way to 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks while Mac Baracael finished with 15 markers, including a clutch triple in the stretch that kept the Filipinos in the game. Tiu, who is already walking wounded as he is nursing a recurring left leg injury, ended up with 13 points spiked with six assists, four steals and three boards. - GMANews.TV with reports from Albert Alba