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Cheng Wen Ting versus Marcus Douthit from way back |
I know
guys like Alvin Patrimonio, Jojo
Lastimosa, Jerry Codinera, Glenn Capacio, Dindo Pumaren, Nelson Asaytono, Bong
Alvarez, Benjie Paras, and the rest of the 1987 ABC Squad have retired but...
...
Thank goodness for Marcus Douthit, Chris
Tiu, Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel De Ocampo, JV Casio, Kelly Williams, Marcio Lassiter,
Chris Lutz, Asi Taulava, and the rest of the Smart-Gilas squad!
For
the first time in 24 years, Team
Pilipinas will see semis action in the 2011
FIBA-Asia Championship!
It’s
the coolest thing ever!
The
Final Four is being molded to our liking. Jordan
has dispatched Iran and I think we
lucked out. Jordan is not a bad team and despite winning our match in the Group
E phase, we can’t underestimate them. However with no question, the threat that
is Hamed Haddadi is scary. He have
to repeat against Rashiem Wright, Sam
Daghles, Islaam Abbas, and the rest of Jordan in order for us to book an
outright qualifier seat or frankly... the chance to join Team USA, Spain, France, Tunisia, Argentina, Brazil, and Australia at
the 2012 London Olympics.
It all
started scary for us when just like in past games, we trailed a bunch of times
at the first half. But for some insane reason, we always find a way to get the
lead or zero in for the kill as the halftime gong blare. Afterwards, we charge
to our strong second half, fuelled by Rajko
Toroman instructions that should be executed flawlessly.
Team
Pilipinas changed their defensive stance from zone to man-to-man and it
basically finished the Taiwanese. The guys from CT loved their open shots and
just like any Far Eastern country they were making the baskets. When
Smart-Gilas changed their defensive stance, it robbed of their free looks and
it was all downhill at that point.
This
has been repeated lots of times but the insertion of Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz were just what the doctor ordered
for Smart-Gilas. Lassiter has scored in double figures in three of his four
games and his all-around game gave the Taiwanese gunners hell. Meanwhile Lutz,
barely made any baskets but his preciousness is seriously emphasized when he is
limiting the opposing team’s aces.
Marcus Douthit is of course THE man for
Smart-Gilas. Playing sluggish at the start, he brought the back to his liking
and finished with 37 points, 10 rebounds, a steal, and a block. His 37 points
is his highest point total ever since donning the Smart-Gilas colors.
Ranidel De Ocampo was awesome in the win. He had
that very familiar somewhat top of the key triple that broke the back of the
Taiwanese. Also for pun’s sake, he broke the diminutive Lee Hsueh-Lee at the third quarter. Lee was rushed out of the arena
in a stretcher after an inadvertent elbow by JV Casio rocked him an accidental fingernail by Ranidel unleashed a
pool of blood. De Ocampo finished with his best game of the season – 18 points,
5 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and a block.
JV Casio, Jimmy Alapag, and
Chris Tiu also
made their presence felt in the game. Casio came alive when they needed the
baskets and as did Alapag especially in terms of settling the troops in the
first half while Tiu pulled the necessary stops despite his lack of size.
Here
are the stats!
POINTS:
1 –
Marcus Douthit – 21.3ppg
2 –
Marcio Lassiter – 11.8ppg
3 –
Ranidel De Ocampo – 8.1ppg
4.5 – Jimmy
Alapag – 7.6ppg
4.5 –
JV Casio – 7.6ppg
REBOUNDS:
1 –
Marcus Douthit – 10.4rpg
2 –
Asi Taulava – 5.9rpg
3 –
Marcio Lassiter – 4.5rpg
4 –
Ranidel De Ocampo – 4.1rpg
5 – Kelly
Williams – 3.9rpg
ASSISTS:
1 –
Jimmy Alapag – 3.4apg
2 – JV
Casio – 3.0apg
3 – Chris
Tiu – 2.9apg
4 – Mark
Barroca – 2.3apg
5 – Ranidel
De Ocampo – 1.9apg
With
the ouster of Iran, a new champion will be crowned. Sam Daghles has said that
for Jordan it’s payback time but Smart-Gilas says otherwise.
Catch
the games at 3:30pm at InterAKTV and
Basketball TV when Smart-Gilas goes for destiny!
More
wins ahead!
GO
GILAS!
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