Smart Gilas cops 5th Place in FIBA Champions Cup

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Smart Gilas cops 5th Place in FIBA Champions Cup
Beats Indonesia 112-107
by rick olivares pic by Jun Mendoza & rick

“The Philippines plays the most exciting basketball in this tournament.”

Whether that was a pronouncement or a question, one cannot be sure what the Indonesian journalist was trying to say in the post game press conference. But for sure, the Smart Gilas Philippines and Satria Muda Indonesia played the best, no, the most scintillating match of the 20th FIBA Asia Champions Challenge Cup in Jakarta that the Filipinos took 112-107 in the only overtime game of the competition.

The two Southeast Asian countries, eliminated from championship contention during quarterfinals play, nearly stole the thunder from the eventual coronation of tournament champion Mahram Iran which beat Zain Jordan 78-68 in the Finals.

Satria Muda bucked the disqualification of one of its American imports in former University of Idaho Vandal Rashad Powell when Yemeni referee Mohammed Amer whistled him for throwing an elbow at the throat of Filipino JR Cawaling with barely four minutes gone by.

Powell’s ejection forced Indonesia Coach Fictor Gideon Roring to urge his locals to give their best.

Roring is Satria Muda’s former star center who learned his coaching chops from former PBA coach Nat Canson who also coached the club to an Indonesian championship. And the local champions responded in a way they have not have all tournament long as they threw everything – almost including the kitchen sink – at the Filipinos who lost a late 10-point lead due to questionable officiating.

Smart Gilas’ forward Dylan Ababou who along with Jayvee Casio have providing scoring sock off the bench, engaged Indonesian point guard Julius Achmed Faisal who nailed five three balls (to the Filipino’s four) in a torrid second half that saw the two squads combine for 97 points before the match went into overtime.

Indonesia’s remaining American, former Iona Gael center Nakeia Jovon Miller, the tournament’s leading rebounder, waged a personal battle with his Smart Gilas counterpart CJ Giles.

Miller notched a game high 41 points, 21 rebounds, and 3 block shots while Giles mailed 24, 17, and 3 respectively including four highlight slams that worked up the Wednesday evening crowd at the Britama Sports Arena.

With 1:39 left in regulation and the Philippines up 88-78, Indonesia got plenty of help from some suspect calls by the referee that they parlayed into 16 points with five treys. Ababou and Gilas’ captain Chris Tiu chipped in 6 of 8 free throws to stave off an upset.

Come overtime, Gilas took over as they tightened their defense and forced Miller into his fifth and final foul.

With Jayvee Casio hampered by foul trouble all game long, it was up to the slippery and dazzling Mark Barroca to take the team home. He played 36 out of the possible 45 minutes showed why he is easily one of the stars of the tournament as he expertly quarterbacked his team during the gut-check overtime period. On his way to a team high 31 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals, he broke the ankles of Faisal and his backup Agung Sonarko three times with his version of a killer crossover that led to a basket and a pair of alley-oop rim rattlers by Giles. “Ayoko matalo,” he said after the match. “Tama na yung dalawa (to Iran and Qatar). Ayoko na maka-experience nang ganon kasakit na talo kaya ginawa ko ang lahat para manalo.”

But he wasn’t alone for he had plenty of help including from the team’s head captain. Tiu who has been battling an assortment of injuries overcame a bad shooting day by playing tough defense as he pulled down four boards and had four steals – two coming off inbound passes by Indonesia. His four free throws in the waning of seconds of overtime helped seal the win and fifth place in Smart Gilas’ inaugural foray into international competition.

Said the Philippines’ Head Coach Rajko Toroman, “I am satisfied with what we showed. Maybe if we had a little more experience we might have placed higher. It is obvious that we need help upfront. We are three players away from being competitive with everyone. And if we can bring back CJ in some way then that would be great for our program.”

The Philippines’ placed second in Group 3-1 behind Mahram Iran which was undefeated at 4-0. But in the crossover quarterfinals, the Gilas team came up one rally short to lose to Al Arabi Qatar 76-71.

Joshua Jones, the American import of Qatar, who watched the RP-Indonesia match with players from Lebanon, Iran, and Jordan proclaimed afterwards, “No matter who wins this tournament, I’ll tell you that the Philippines played like champions and is definitely the best team to watch here in Jakarta.”

Scores:
Philippines 112 – Barroca 31, Giles 24, Ababou 20, Ramos 14, Tiu 14, Cawaling 3, Baracael 4, Cawaling 3, Casio 2, Ballesteros 0, Guevarra 0, Jazul 0

Indonesia 107 – Miller 41, Faisal 23, Prihantono 17, Sitepu 13, Sunarko 5, Situmorang 3, Powell 2, Sondakh 2, Wijaya 1, Jati 0, G. Gunawan 0, R. Gunawan 0

in the huddle of the Gilas team in the tournament

Notes: Smart Gilas import CJ Giles has reportedly drawn the interest of several Middle Eastern teams including Lebanon and Jordan. When Giles returns to the Philippines, SBP will discuss his future with the team… The West Asian teams have also expressed great admiration for Andy Mark Barroca… SBP team officials are hoping that collegiate standouts Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Japeth Aguilar will suit up for the Gilas team along with Fil-American Chris Lutz… The team will play a four game exhibition series in Japan next week as guests of the Japanese basketball Association who recommended by FIBA Asia officials for their sterling play in the 20th FIBA Asia Champions Challenge Cup in Jakarta… The team will break for the college basketball season but graduates Jayvee Casio, Chris Tiu, Jason Ballesteros, and Mac Baracael will continue their training. Gilas Head Coach Rajko Toroman and his coaching staff were upset after reviewing the tape of the Philippines’ game versus Qatar where the Ukrainian referee made seven dubious calls against the Filipinos in the game’s waning moments.