Filtered By: Sports
Sports

Gilas demolishes UAE even without Lutz, Lassiter


WUHAN, China – Smart Gilas-Pilipinas played minus two of its most reliable players at the wing, but still went on to demolish United Arab Emirates, 92-52, Thursday night to win its opening day match in the 26th FIBA Asia Championship For Men. The Nationals were reduced to a 10-man roster after Fil-Ams Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter were declared ineligible to play prior to the game for failing to comply with a provision of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) regulation on citizenship. The sudden turn of events initially appeared to bother the Nationals as they trailed their opponents, 0-5, in the early going. But things finally came to a turn the moment Mac Baracael broke the spell for the team, hitting a medium range jumper three minutes into the game. After one quarter, the Nationals were already on top, 17-12, and by halftime, the lead already ballooned to 41-22. “It was a very important game to win under a very difficult circumstances," said coach Rajko Toroman at the post game interview. “It was a fun game especially coming in when we’re kind of distracted," added veteran Asi Taulava, who finished with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Without Lassiter and Lutz, Baracael took the scoring cudgels for the embattled Nationals with 15 points behind a 7-of-11 shooting from the floor. With the eligibility of Lassiter, 23, and Lutz, 26, still hanging in the balance, the Nationals next face mighty host China late Friday evening, eyeing a second straight win in Group D and a possible slot into the next round. “This is not the time to cry now," Toroman said. “We will do something tomorrow for these two guys to be able to play." Other opening day results earlier saw Jordan trounced Syria, 71-58, two-time defending champion Iran beat Chinese-Taipei in a low-scoring game, 49-37, Japan whipped Indonesia, 81-59, and Korea routed Malaysia, 89-42. -OMG, GMA News The scores: Smart-Gilas (92) -- Baracael 15, Taulava 13, Douthit 13, Casio 11, Barroca 9, Tiu 9, de Ocampo 7, Alapag 6, Williams 5, Aguilar 4. UAE (52) -- Ahmed 12, Alhattawi 11, Ahmad 10, Alzaabi 7, Salem 6, Al Braiki 3, Abdalla 3, Alsari 0, Banihammad 0. Quarterscores: 17-12; 41-22; 69-35; 92-52.

LOADING CONTENT