FIBA-Asia junks Jordan protest against Gilas

FIBA-Asia officials on Wednesday junked the protest filed by Jordan in the wake of its controversy-marred 72-64 loss to Smart Gilas-Pilipinas in the second round of the 26th FIBA-Asia Championship For Men in Wuhan, China. Through American coach Thomas Baldwin, the Jordanians put the game under protest at halftime after Filipino-American guards Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz were allowed to play even after the match had already started. But tournament officials nullified the complaint and ruled in favor of Gilas. Oliver Bunye, one of the Nationals' assistant coaches, confirmed the report for GMA News Online. Even after getting a letter signed by International Basketball Federation (FIBA) secretary-general Patrick Baumann allowing both Lassiter and Lutz to finally play, the two were still prohibited from suiting up for Gilas just before game time. Only the insistence of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Manny V. Pangilinan—through Baumann's intercession—did FIBA-Asia deputy secretary general Hagop Khajirain gave the green light for Lassiter and Lutz to be fielded in. Lassiter entered the game with three minutes to go in the first period and Jordan enjoying a 17-5 lead. Lutz, meanwhile, started the second quarter for Gilas. The Jordanian's move cost them a hefty sum of money, but Baldwin downplayed the significance of the amount since "travesty had been served to the sport of basketball." "Since we're setting precedents here with players being given the go-signal to play seven minutes into the game, then I might as well place the game under protest at halftime," said the Jordan's American mentor. Gilas coach Rajko Toroman, who also put the match under protest prior to its start when Lutz and Lassiter were barred from playing, said he'd rather focus on the Nationals' campaign entering the knockout stage of the Olympic qualifying meet. "The goal is to make the quarterfinals, and then the semifinals. Then we take it from there. Anything can happen in the semis," said the Serbian coach, whose eyeing a top two finish for Gilas in Group F. — JVP, GMA News