I remember first watching Asi Taulava with Blu Detergent in the PBL and man, he was something else. I couldn't wait for him to take his act to the PBA and in his early years he was an unstoppable force. I've been fortunate enough to interview him on many occasions and even get a scoop by writing about his trade from Talk N Text to Coca Cola. I thought that he might be winding down but you always hope for another monster game by the Big Fella.
And last night, I, along with every other Filipino, got that wish as he ran the floor like a young buck and helped Team Pilipinas to its second win -- a pulsating 78-69 victory over Japan -- in the 25th FIBA Asia Men's Championship in Tianjin, China.
Sonny Thoss played great too as he topscored with 15 points. But I thought it was the duo of Cyrus Baguio and Taulava who got that lead in the third when we were down 51-50 and never looked back.
And what can you say about those three-point buzzer beaters by Gabe Norwood and Arwind Santos to end the first and second quarters to keep us within striking distance? That set the table for a great turnaround in the second half.
Scores:
RP 78 – Thoss 15, Taulava 11, Miller 10, Yap 9, Pennisi 9, Baguio 8, Helterbrand 5, Raymundo 3, Santos 3, Norwood 3, Dillinger 2.
JAPAN 69 – Yamada 16, Takeuchi K. 14, Igarashi 13, Kashiwagi 12, Takeuchi J. 8, Ito 4, Amino 2, Okada 0, Takeda 0.
Quarters: 17-22; 35-41; 56-53; 78-69
Korea vs. Sri Lanka 122-54
Jordan vs. Indonesia 105-47
Lebanon vs. United Arab Emirates 108-38
Chinese-Taipei vs. Kuwait 73-51
China vs. Kazakhstan 74-56
Qatar vs. India 95-70
Iran vs. Uzbekistan 82-61
And last night, I, along with every other Filipino, got that wish as he ran the floor like a young buck and helped Team Pilipinas to its second win -- a pulsating 78-69 victory over Japan -- in the 25th FIBA Asia Men's Championship in Tianjin, China.
Sonny Thoss played great too as he topscored with 15 points. But I thought it was the duo of Cyrus Baguio and Taulava who got that lead in the third when we were down 51-50 and never looked back.
And what can you say about those three-point buzzer beaters by Gabe Norwood and Arwind Santos to end the first and second quarters to keep us within striking distance? That set the table for a great turnaround in the second half.
Scores:
RP 78 – Thoss 15, Taulava 11, Miller 10, Yap 9, Pennisi 9, Baguio 8, Helterbrand 5, Raymundo 3, Santos 3, Norwood 3, Dillinger 2.
JAPAN 69 – Yamada 16, Takeuchi K. 14, Igarashi 13, Kashiwagi 12, Takeuchi J. 8, Ito 4, Amino 2, Okada 0, Takeda 0.
Quarters: 17-22; 35-41; 56-53; 78-69
Korea vs. Sri Lanka 122-54
Jordan vs. Indonesia 105-47
Lebanon vs. United Arab Emirates 108-38
Chinese-Taipei vs. Kuwait 73-51
China vs. Kazakhstan 74-56
Qatar vs. India 95-70
Iran vs. Uzbekistan 82-61
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