Asi-led Gilas no match against Lebanon quintet

Not even the inclusion of the man called as “The Rock" can solidify the performance of Smart-Gilas national developmental team in its first game in the tough Stankovic Cup against host Lebanon. With only eight players fielded in, the short-handed national team aspirants proved to be no match against the formidable Lebanese squad, which coasted to an easy 74-59 triumph Saturday night (early Sunday morning in Manila) in a Group B match in Beirut. Returning injured forward Fadi El Khatib provided the inspiration by scoring four points in 13 minutes of play. Old reliable Ronnie Fahed provided the devastation as he torched the Pinoys with 23 points in leading the Lebanese to a morale-boosting win in this tournament, which serves as a qualifying event for the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship. Ali Mahmoud shook off a rusty start and scored 12 second-half points for Lebanon, which led from start to finish against the national developmental squad. The national team aspirants were led by JV Casio, who finished with 15 points. The cerebral guard, who missed some of his team's major international campaigns, reaffirmed his role as one of his squad’s go-to-guys. The national team hopefuls were reinforced by former Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player and three-time all-pro national team member Asi Taulava. But even Taulava’s presence wasn’t enough to lift the Filipinos’ cause, especially against a souped-up Lebanese squad, which played with an NBA veteran (Jackson Vroman) and a former Big League prospect (El Khatib). Taulava, the oldest player on coach Rajko Toroman’s roster at 37, finished with seven points. Curiously, Taulava and El Khatib, former rivals in the FIBA Asia Championship, were reunited and an old rivalry was rekindled. But El Khatib, who nearly made it to the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA, played limited minutes and was preserved by Lebanon coach Tab Baldwin. “I’m definitely out of touch, but physically I am back," said the 31-year-old El Khatib. “Our goal is a good performance at Turkey (in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, to which Lebanon have earned a wildcard). Therefore, I am positive of getting fully back into form very soon," he said. Baldwin expressed optimism his ward will get better as the tournament progresses. “We all know Fadi has a great heart as a player, and it definitely showed today. But as was obvious, he is yet to get his touch and rhythm," Baldwin said. “But considering the fact he is back on court and trying out his best is an encouraging sign for us on our path to Turkey," he said. - Rey Joble, GMANews.TV