Gilas trounces Taiwan, back in FIBA-Asia semis

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV After 24 years, the Philippines is back to the medal round of the FIBA-Asia Championship For Men. Marcus Douthit had a monster game of 37 points and 10 rebounds as Smart Gilas-Pilipinas whipped Chinese Taipei, 95-78, Friday night at the Wuhan gymnasium in China. Douthit and Ranidel De Ocampo, who had his best game so far with 18 points, teamed up in a huge third quarter breakaway by Gilas after a slow start. The Nationals will now face Jordan on Saturday in their first semifinals stint in the FIBA-Asia since 1987 in Bangkok, when a team bannered by Alvin Patrimonio and Benjie Paras and coached by Joe Lipa, finished fourth. "It's a great win for us to remember," said Gilas' Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, who's also responsible for Iran's title run during the 2007 staging of the tournament in Tokushima, Japan. "This is history for the Philippines, the best result in the last 24 years, so I have to congratulate my players." Jordan earlier pulled off a stunner with a huge 88-84 upset of Hamed Haddadi and two-time champion Iran. Although the Nationals had beaten the Jordanians in the second round, Toroman sees an even match up with them. "But the chances of going to the Finals now is much better with Iran out." In the other knockout match, Korea trounced Japan, 86-67, and made it back to the semis after being eliminated in the quarterfinals two years ago in Tianjin. The Koreans will now face the winner of the China-Lebanon game. Sparked by the JV Casio's outside shooting, the Nationals answered with a 14-3 blast to end the opening half holding a slim 45-42 lead. Casio had two three-pointers during that run, including the one that shattered a 42-42 deadlock with 27 seconds left in the second period. Gilas, until coming through with that scoring binge, was outhustled and outworked on both ends by the Taiwanese, who held a 16-8 edge in second chance points at the break. As the Nationals struggled, the Taiwanese, who had former San Antonio Spurs coach Bob Hill as their consultant, rolled on and held their biggest lead at 39-31 on a Wen Ting Tseng three-pointer with three minutes and 59 seconds to go before the half. Toroman promptly called a time out and Gilas responded with that scoring exchange. Gilas' lead ballooned to 79-60, before Chinese Taipei threatened in the final three minutes behind a barrage of three-pointers to cut the deficit to seven (85-78). The Nationals responded with seven straight points, including Douthit's completed three-point playin the final 62 seconds for a 92-78 count. — JVP, GMA News