Gilas 5 splits first two games in Dubai caging

Smart Gilas Pilipinas failed to follow up on its opening-day win when the national developmental squad suffered a 72-85 loss to Egypt on Friday night in the 22nd Dubai International Basketball Tournament at the Al Ahli Club, in Dubai. Gilas opened with a 70-57 crushing of Lebanon's Anibal Zahle on Thursday but could not find the same shooting touch against the taller and heftier opponents from Egypt's club team Al Etihad. The Rajko Toroman-coached PHL 5 was only down by five points after 10 minutes of play, 18-23, but could not keep up with the more experienced Egyptian squad. Al Etihad played great defense in the second quarter to neutralize Gilas' outside shooters, then outscored their opponents to erect a 20-point bubble, 43-23. They kept the Filipinos at bay in the third, then thwarted Gilas' numerous comeback attempts to cruise to their second straight win. Playmaker JV Casio was the lone double-digit scorer for the Gilas crew with 26 points, while Marcio Lassiter and Marnel Baracael combined for 18 points. Marcus Douthit was also a non-factor in the game as he was held to just eight points and nine rebounds. Those numbers were a far cry from Douthit's 16-point and 18-rebound performance in the previous match. That game was close in the first three quarters, as Gilas could not seem to find the right formula against the tough Lebanese squad. The Filipinos' defense picked up in the fourth quarter, however, as Douthit continued to burn the hoops, with Casio and team captain Chris Tiu hitting timely baskets to seal the win. Casio and Baracael added 10 points each to support Douthit's double-double performance. Gilas will next face the Rashim Wright-led Sharjah Club of UAE on Saturday and will close out the first round against Syria's Al Wahda on January 24, Monday. All their games have been scheduled as the prime matches played at 9 p.m. Dubai time, which is four hours behind Manila. – Jon Perez, KY, GMANews.TV