Guts, Pride, and One Huge Step for Philippine Basketball
RP upends Lebanon 91-86
by rick olivares
The score at the end of three quarters of play was 65-all. The Smart Gilas RP Men’s Basketball Team had lost an impressive 16-point lead that it mounted early in the first half of their third match in the 20th FIBA Asia Champions Cup. It brought to mind their previous match that they lost to Mahram Iran where they also posted a double-digit lead before the squad’s American reinforcement CJ Giles went out with foul trouble.
Giles had gone out once more but this time because of a knee injury while contesting a lay-up by former San Miguel Beer import Nate Johnson (who led the ballclub to a title in the PBA) who was now plying his trade with Al Riyadi Lebanon.
Gilas Head Coach Rajko Toroman put temporarily put aside his fears and concerns for Giles to attend to the task at hand. Lebanon, although missing a bunch of players because of injuries had the heart of a champion as they were coming off title runs in their home country and in Dubai. Al Riyadi, led by its American players Johnson and former Villanova center Chris Charles outscored the Philippines 31-16 to notch the match to only its second deadlock at 65-all.
There was some drama building up to the game. Both the Philippines and Lebanon were coming off losses (both to Iran coincidentally).
After the loss of the Smart Gilas RP Men’s National Team to Mahram, the Filipino’s American reinforcement CJ Giles wept. He even refused to eat afterwards as he blamed himself for letting the team down (Giles fouled out).
“At least he’s got character,” noted Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Noli Eala of the American’s emotions.
Toroman on the other hand seethed over Lebanon’s loss to Iran as Al Riyadi mentor Fouad Abou Chakra benched his banged up starters in favor of his bench. The Lebanese champs were subsequently blown away by more than 20 points.
The Serbian coach of Gilas thought it was a mockery as there was no attempt to win. Chakra thought it mere prudence to live and fight another day. Iran’s coach Mostafa Hashemi agreed with Toroman but was nevertheless glad to see his club remain undefeated to keep pace with old nemesis Zain Jordan, the leaders of Group B in the 20th FIBA Asia Champions Challenge Cup.
Both teams needed to win in order to place well for the quarterfinals. A loss by the Philippines would give life to Sangmoo Korea that finally notched their first win against Kuwait Qadsia the day before.
A loss by Lebanon meant on the other hand meant that they could be on a collision course with either Al Arabi Qatar or Al Wasil UAE.
Having already gotten a taste of real competition, Smart Gilas shoed no fear as they took the game to West Asian country. Gilas point guard Andy Mark Barroca, averaging 16 points in the first two games, immediately put the cuffs on Al Riyadi guard Ali Mahmoud, who was stripped twice and whistled for three fouls in the first half.
Barroca and Giles combined for 16 points in the first ten minutes of play as Smart Gilas’ defense wreaked havoc on Al Riyadi’s guards who were unable to establish any sense of play. With their guards taken out, Chakra directed the ball to Johnson and let him create.
Johnson traded baskets and good-natured talk with his guard, forward Dylan Ababou who didn’t back down. “Got it tough?” asked Johnson after swishing a trey. The Filipino swingman responded by tipping in an offensive rebound for a 49-34 halftime lead.
After a hot start, the clamps were on him and Charles, the former Wildcats back-up center, picked up the slack to keep Lebanon in the game.
At 5:38 of the third quarter, with the Philippines holding 56-44 lead, Gilas captain Chris Tiu and Team Trainer and Conditioning Coach Jim Saret carried out Giles. As the Filipinos momentarily lost their wits, Toroman thought that it was a magnificent opportunity to show their true character.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Toroman fielded Aldrech Ramos, Jason Ballesteros, Jayvee Casio, Dylan Ababou, and Barroca. Al Riyadi had Mohammad Ibrahim, Omar El Turk, Ali Fakhreddine, Johnson, and Charles opting for more height now that Giles was not on the floor.
In Lebanon’s first possession, they recovered the offensive rebound five times before Ibrahim scored on a lay-up that had the bass drum of the team’s supporters beating louder.
Ramos is one of the more quiet players on the team as he prefers to laugh at his teammates’ jokes. He played center and at time power forward averaging 4.5 points and 1.5 points in the first two matches.
On the next possession, Casio drove the lane then handed off a pass to Ramos who rolled in, pulled up with Charles’ hand in his face and buried a jumper. 67-all.
In the meantime, Giles was masterfully patched up by Saret (as the trainers of four countries looked on in amazement). “Just hold them off for two minutes, guys,” hollered the former Los Angeles Lakers draftee. “I’m coming back.”
The team’s Operations Manager, Butch Antonio, concerned that Giles might aggravate the injury ventured that maybe Giles conserve himself for the next match.
“No, I’m not going to let the team down.”
The Filipino team on the floor returned Lebanon the favor by regaining ball possession four times before Ramos swished in another jumper 69-67 RP.
Two free throws by Barroca and four points by Ramos sandwiched between a basket by El Turk gave the Philippines a 73-64 cushion when Giles pulled a Willis Reed and entered the court with 6:29 left in the fourth quarter.
The small Filipino crowd leader by team patron and business magnate Manuel Pangilinan, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Harry Angping, Philippine Ambassador to ASEAN Orly Mercado, and Indofood Commissioner Albert del Rosario stood up and gave the team an ovation for their remaining steadfast in the face of the mounting pressure.
A miss by Lebanon and Giles pulled down the defensive board. On a gimpy knee, the American sprinted down, caught a pass from Barroca, whirled around with Johnson draped all over him for a magnificent lay-up that brought everyone (including the Indonesian and Jordanian crowd) to their feet.
At the 3:33 mark, Giles caught an alley-oop (once more from Barroca) for a death-defying two-handed slam that brought the house down 82-72 RP.
He followed that up with a nasty fadeaway shot from 18-feet out with Charles coming out a second too late to challenge it.
Al Riyadi still had one last charge in them as Johnson, who finished with 43 points, and Brian Feghali fought back. But this team, Gilas’ free throw shooting down the stretch held as Giles and Ababou added two apiece as they held on for a pulsating 91-86 win for a 2-1 record in Group A.
After the match, some of Iranian players, visibly impressed with the hard-earned victory went over to congratulate Toroman, their former national coach: “See you in the Finals!”
Toroman smiled, inquired about Giles (he was diagnosed with a knee strain), and went to the post-match press conference.
Philippines – Barroca 28, Giles 20, Ababou 17, Ramos 8, Tiu 8, Casio 6, Baracael 2, Cawaling 2
Lebanon – Johnson 43, Charles 21, Fahed 8, Mahmoud 6, Ibrahim 5, Feghali 6
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