Jordan's Daghles wants Gilas to be their semis foe

Jordan playmaker Osama Daghles would prefer to have a rematch with Smart Gilas-Pilipinas in the semifinals of the 26th FIBA-Asia Men's Basketball Championship. Daghles, after torching a Hamed Haddadi-led Iran side for 23 points in leading Jordan to a stunning 88-84 upset of the two-time defending champions in Friday's quarterfinals, said he wants to face Gilas again when they shoot for a finals berth. The 11-day tournament, which ends on Sunday, serves as the qualifying event for the 2012 London Olympics. "It will be like a payback game. So it's gonna be fun," said Daghles, who shot 7-of-16 from the field, when asked about crossing paths again with their second round tormentor. Daghles also had four rebounds, five assists and three steals in Jordan's win that prevented Iran from ruling the tournament for the third straight time. Gilas was still playing against Chinese-Taipei in their quarterfinal match as of posting time with both teams aiming to earn the chance of facing the tournament's new giant killer. "They (Gilas) came back in that game and beat us," added the California-born Daghles, referring to Jordan's 72-64 loss against Gilas in the second round. Jordan, the bronze medalist in the 2009 FIBA-Asia meet, led by 18 points but failed to deliver the knockout blow as Gilas—behind the combined efforts of guards Jimmy Alapag and Marcio Lassiter, and big man Marcus Douthit—rallied to win the game. "Unfortunately, one team has to go home, and we're not yet ready to go home," the 6-foot-5 Daghles added. "Iran has sent a lot of teams home in the past, and I guess it's their turn now," said Jordan's American coach Thomas Baldwin. — JVP, GMA News