My thoughts on the Philippines’ match vs. Saudi Arabia

This appears on abs-cbnnews.com

My thoughts on the Philippines’ match vs. Saudi Arabia

by rick olivares

If you were one of those who caught the China-Korea match that preceded the Philippines-Saudi Arabia tiff, you might have said, ‘Ah, we can play these guys.’

First matches can never be too much of a gauge of a team’s worth. First game jitters. Unfamiliarity with teammates. And there’s more.

Watching the Philippines play Saudi Arabia in last night’s 78-66 win, it was obvious that the home team was much better. But they didn’t play great again for reasons of first game jitters, uptightness, and well, Saudi played good defense too.

But here are my thoughts about the opening match of the Philippines campaign:

We couldn’t get into a rhythm.

The Philippines started out well with an 8-0 blast. Just when it looked liked they’d go on a tear and end this whole this in the first period (ala Iran versus Malaysia in the FIBA Asia opener) Saudi Arabia battled back. They visitors came back by hitting their free throws and three-pointers. They even took the first period, 16-14.

The home side finally put a little distance late in the second period going 35-25 after a bank shot by LA Tenorio but SA had the last word with a triple to cut the lead to seven going into the halftime break.

The biggest lead the Philippines managed was 16 points (that was cut down to 12 in the final second of the match).

The Filipinos had their game faces on. There were no broad smiles or cheers. Even when they blocked shots or made a good play, they remained impassive. As I opined earlier, it must have been a combination of opening day jitters, uptightness from the hype, and not having it.

The nationals acknowledged that it was an ugly game. Head coach Chot Reyes even admitted that they were playing two games as they were trying to manage everyone’s minutes give the play dates against Jordan and Chinese Taipei today and tomorrow respectively.

Having said that, I have a feeling the Philippines will play better today against Jordan.

You have to give Saudi Arabia credit, they played good enough (read: not great but good enough) defense.

In the Philippines’ very first possession, they batted away a pass then nearly stole the ball away. LA Tenorio just hit a three-pointer right before the shot clock buzzer went off.

The Philippines looked like they were going to blow out SA but Jaber Kabe stole the ball from Marcus Douthit, Marc Pingris turned the ball over, then the team got into foul trouble.

Then Marzouq Al Mullawad stole the ball from Jimmy Alapag in the first possession of the RP team in the second period. Marzouq hit only one free throw and the small deficit was quickly overhauled when Jason Castro went in.

They never allowed the Philippines to run too much – only two fastbreak points --and that was one of the highlights where the ball didn’t touch the floor: a forward pass by Jimmy A to Larry F who crossed it to a cutting LA Tenorio for a reverse layup.

The only other highlight (outside of Japeth Aguilar’s blocks and Marc Pingris’ hustle plays) was that Douthit jam.

We played a team that was offensively inept

Saudi Arabia threw up 30 three-point attempts. They hit 10 for 30 points. They also only had eight points in the paint. Even with their big guy Mohammed Al Marawi, he isn’t your classic post up player. He likes to face up and try jumpers.

Playing zone, the three point shot was all we gave them. Al Marawi would go out to the perimeter to draw Douthit out. The problem is they did not have the slashers to carve up the Philippines’ defense. Plus, we have better interior defenders than they do.

They took a lot of uncontested shots because we were also sagging to close down the shaded area. They really couldn’t hit the side of the barn if their lives depended on it. From the moment of the ball’s release, you knew it wasn’t going in as the shot was off or short-armed. If I felt that the home team had their game on collectively, they would have made short work of Saudi Arabia.

Can’t really say we were bad offensively (we shot 42% from the field) but out of rhythm, the Philippines played good enough defense in spurts.

We won the rebounding battle 49-38 and had six blocks to their two, however, we turned the ball over a little more 14-10. Each side collected five points off these TOs.

Can the Philippines play better? Most definitely. I believe that we played down to the level of the competition last night. Against Jordan, we’ll play better (as the latter has a young team and is missing many veteran players; only three out of the 12 suited up in the last FIBA Asia).

Maybe they’ll remain impassive. That’s good. You know they are locked in because every game from hereon is for keeps.

My players for the game for the Philippines: Ranidel De Ocampo and Larry Fonacier.

Jordan wary; Chinese Taipei looking for redemption against Philippines in FIBA Asia

This appears in the Friday, August 2, 2013 edition of the Business Mirror.

Jordan wary; Chinese Taipei looking for redemption against Philippines in FIBA Asia

by rick olivares

For Jordan, the road to the quarterfinals of the 2013 FIBA Asia championships got a whole lot harder following the loss to opening day loss to Chinese Taipei, 91-87, as they face the Philippines today at Mall of Asia Arena.

Jordan is bracketed with Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia in Group A of the biennial basketball tournament.

Chinese Taipei is a foot into the next stage. But they need a win over Saudi Arabia to improve their chances. After all, their last assignment is the Philippines that is also a favorite to advance to the quarterfinals as well.

But it isn’t only the Philippines’ northern neighbors who are feeling confident of their chances of moving on. Jordan point guard Wesam Al Sous is likewise as optimistic about his country advancing to the next stage of the 2013 FIBA Asia finals.

“I think we still have a chance,” offered the six-foot guard who plays for ASU in the Jordan Basketball League.

“But,” he added quickly. “It won’t be easy. The Philippines has been one of the best teams in Asia in the past four or five years. We’re here in Manila and they have the advantage. We just have to be at our best.”

Jordan, which cracked the 2011 FIBA Asia finals in Wuhan only to lose to China 70-69, has only three returnees from that tournament in Al Sous, Khaldoon Abu Ruqayah, and Abdalla Abuqqura. “We have moved on from there. It’s a new team,” noted Al Sous who scored 18 points in his Manila debut.

“The Philippines is a balanced team,” observed Jordan head coach Evangelos Alexandris. “From what we have seen they are big, they have shooters, and fast players.”

“This team is more older, more mature than the team of younger players that we saw in China,” added Al Sous. “They will be difficult. We must match their intensity and show them our pride.”

Despite their opening day win over Jordan, Chinese Taipei  is reeling from a pair of beatings from the Philippines – the 95-78 shellacking  in the quarterfinals  of the 2011 FIBA Asia tournament and the 85-63 beating in the 2012 William Jones Cup – in the last couple of years are out for revenge.

“Our players are older as well,” said head coach Hsu Chin Che. “Wiser and physically better. The win over Jordan will improve their confidence. But we see the Philippines as a big test for us. Hopefully, we will win.”

Chinese Taipei repulses Jordan’s late rally

Chinese Taipei repulses Jordan’s late rally

by rick olivares

Chinese Taipei outlasts Jordan was on the verge of pulling off a huge win against Chinese Taipei. No Sam Dahgles. No Islam or Zaid Abbas. No Rasheim Wright. No Enver Soobzokov.

Jordan, last FIBA Asia’s finalist where they lost to eventual champion China, was up 67-57 after a Wesam Al Sous triple at the 3:30 mark of the third period. But Chinese Taipei came roaring back in no time behind Chen Shih Chieh, Lin Chih Chieh, and Douglas Creighton to come within a bucket of tying the game, 67-65, with three quarters to play.

Then six-foot-eight power forward Tseng Wen-Ting came in the fourth and provided a huge spark for Chinese Taipei. Tseng played only seven minutes in the first three periods. But his six fourth periods points and two rebounds added inside muscle to the sparkling outside game of Lin who scored 27 points including four triples.

Lin’s 16-point fourth quarter explosion and Tseng’s contributions offset naturalized player Quincy Davis III’s quiet crunch time game. Davis, tallied 18 points after three quarters while trying to keep up with Jordan’s Jimmy Baxter. However, Baxter suffered a power outage in the fourth period managing only three points. In contrast, Davis was help scoreless as well in the payoff period.

Jordan crumbled from an offensive foul called on Khaidon Abu Ruqayah (setting a moving pick for Al Sous), a technical foul called on head coach Evangelos Alexandris, and a miscue between Baxter and As Sous who contested a loose ball before totally losing it along the sideline. The damage? An 81-72 deficit with 4:31 left in the match.

Jordan tried to battle back but Chinese Taipei held them off for a 91-87 win.

Aside from Lin, Chinese Taipei’s sleek naturalized player, Davis, added 18 points and 11 rebounds including an inside presence for coach Hsu Chin-Che. Tien Lei 12 while Chen contributed 10 points.

“We were lucky because we were down 10 points,” said Hsu after the Group A match. “But we got more rebounds and that helped us.”  Chinese Taipei owned a 41-32 rebounding edge over Jordan.

“Quincy helped us inside and our inside game was important,” added Hsu who team shot 38 times from the free throw line (against the 21 of Jordan). Lin attacked inside and that was good for us.”

Jordan launched a furious comeback in the last three minutes but they fell short in the final minute of the game.

Iran crushes Malaysia 115-25 in FIBA Asia Manila opener

Iran crushes Malaysia in FIBA Asia Manila opener

by rick olivares

Iran crushed disheartened Malaysia in the 2013 FIBA Asia championship opener, 115-25 at the Mall of Asia Arena yesterday. Malaysia, still reeling from the loss of young center Jack Ng Kiat Kee who passed away due to heart failure during a match in an invitational tournament in China last Sunday

Seven-foot-two center Hamed Hadadi blocked Hong Hoong Gan’s first foray inside the paint and Iran, which lost in the quarterfinals of the biennial competition, was on their way racking up a huge 42-3 lead after the first period.

“We are a young team with only two players with experience,” said Malaysia head coach Teh Choon Yean. “It’s a learning experience for us.”

The only Malaysian players with extensive experience are Ooi Ban Sin and Kuek Tian Yuan who both play for the Kuala Lumpur Dragon in the Asean Basketball League.

Iran in the meantime was able to rest its veterans Hadadi, Samad Nikkhah Bahrami, Hamed Afagh, and Mahdi Kamrany in anticipation of Friday’s match against Korea while giving their bench extensive minutes. 

Despite playing only 13 minutes, Hadadi, a NBA veteran having played for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Phoenix Suns, top scored for Iran with 21 points. Forward Ashgar Kardoust backed him up with 15 points while Mohammed Jamshidijafarabadi and Mahdi Kamrany added 12 each. Bahrami scored 11 while Oshin Sahakian chipped in 10.

So absolute was Iran domination that they pulled down 47 rebounds to the 22 of Malaysia. Iran also scored 45 points of turnovers and 70 whopping points in the paint. They attempted 61 times from the field while limiting Malaysia to a mere 19 field goal attempts.

Gan was Malaysia’s only player to score in double figures with 10.

Iran’s Slovakian head coach Mehmed Becirovic downplayed his team’s win saying that Malaysia was “grieving” with their loss. “But it’s better to play a weaker team than a strong team on your first day. There are always first game jitters.”