by Fiona Marielli S. Paclipan
(photo from interaksyon.com) Gilas Pilipinas prevailed in their opening game, defeating Saudi Arabia on a thorny 78-66 game, Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Gilas, leading most of the match, had put up an 18-7 run before Saudi Arabia pulls through, stunning the locals with a three-point salvo behind, 66-59.
Larry Fonacier led Gilas with 12 points along LA Tenorio, finishing with 4 and 6 assists, correspondingly, while Marcus Douthit recuperated from a limp first half and issued 10 points.
Tenorio, along with Jeff Chan, kicked off a 10-3 run for Gilas after getting down to an impressive 8-0 opening, leaving the Arabians bricking from the perimeter. The Philippines’ momentum, however, was cut off by Saudi Arabia’s call for timeout scarcely two minutes into
the match.
Saudi Arabia redeemed themselves by Ayman Almuwallad’s hoops, making Gilas fall short in a 10-4 run. The first 12 minutes belonged to the visitors as they managed to end with 16-14 lead, but Gilas played better basketball during the next period, with Jayson Castro and
Ranidel De Ocampo collaborated for 8 points.
In spite of this, Saudi Arabia had grasped the first half. Ayman Almuwallad was given three charities with 0.7 left on the clock, and had put the score at 35-28 going into the half-time.
Castro broke the locals’ struggle by a driving and-one after a Mohammed Almarwani basket early in the third, and Douthit started to heat up and score better than he did on the first up, nicking 6 in an 11-2 run by the Philippines, 46-35.
Marzouq Almuwallad and Mustafa Alhwasawi cut the deficit, 46-43 late in the third, but Marc Pingris, aided by Fonacier, ended the quarter ahead, 57-46 by answering back with an 11-3 run.
Gilas got off to a 9-4 rally to impose a 4-point lead against the visitors by a Fonacier trey. Saudi Arabia got back into track, led by Almuwallad and Matha Almarwani who drained 3 consecutive triples, putting the hosts with just under four minutes to play. The Philippines continued to tussle until the last minute, coming up with another Fonacier trey which lifted them afloat and having enough time to finishing the game triumphantly.
"We got off to a good start, then, we relaxed,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes. “We're not really alarmed, but disappointed.”
"It was an ugly win, but it's still a win," said Ranidel De Ocampo, who finished with 9 points.
SCORES
Philippines 78 - Tenorio 12, Fonacier 12, Douthit 10, De Ocampo 9, Pingris 8, Chan 6, Castro 6, Alapag 5, David 4, Norwood 2, Fajardo 2, Aguilar 2
Saudi Arabia 66 - A. Almuwallad 18, Mo. Almarwani 12, Alhwsawi 11, Abo Jalas 9, Ma. Almarwani 8, M. Almuwallad 4, Belal 2, Kabe 2, Alsager 0
Quarter scoring: 14-16, 35-28, 57-46, 78-66
Gilas, leading most of the match, had put up an 18-7 run before Saudi Arabia pulls through, stunning the locals with a three-point salvo behind, 66-59.
Larry Fonacier led Gilas with 12 points along LA Tenorio, finishing with 4 and 6 assists, correspondingly, while Marcus Douthit recuperated from a limp first half and issued 10 points.
Tenorio, along with Jeff Chan, kicked off a 10-3 run for Gilas after getting down to an impressive 8-0 opening, leaving the Arabians bricking from the perimeter. The Philippines’ momentum, however, was cut off by Saudi Arabia’s call for timeout scarcely two minutes into
the match.
Saudi Arabia redeemed themselves by Ayman Almuwallad’s hoops, making Gilas fall short in a 10-4 run. The first 12 minutes belonged to the visitors as they managed to end with 16-14 lead, but Gilas played better basketball during the next period, with Jayson Castro and
Ranidel De Ocampo collaborated for 8 points.
In spite of this, Saudi Arabia had grasped the first half. Ayman Almuwallad was given three charities with 0.7 left on the clock, and had put the score at 35-28 going into the half-time.
Castro broke the locals’ struggle by a driving and-one after a Mohammed Almarwani basket early in the third, and Douthit started to heat up and score better than he did on the first up, nicking 6 in an 11-2 run by the Philippines, 46-35.
Marzouq Almuwallad and Mustafa Alhwasawi cut the deficit, 46-43 late in the third, but Marc Pingris, aided by Fonacier, ended the quarter ahead, 57-46 by answering back with an 11-3 run.
Gilas got off to a 9-4 rally to impose a 4-point lead against the visitors by a Fonacier trey. Saudi Arabia got back into track, led by Almuwallad and Matha Almarwani who drained 3 consecutive triples, putting the hosts with just under four minutes to play. The Philippines continued to tussle until the last minute, coming up with another Fonacier trey which lifted them afloat and having enough time to finishing the game triumphantly.
"We got off to a good start, then, we relaxed,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes. “We're not really alarmed, but disappointed.”
"It was an ugly win, but it's still a win," said Ranidel De Ocampo, who finished with 9 points.
SCORES
Philippines 78 - Tenorio 12, Fonacier 12, Douthit 10, De Ocampo 9, Pingris 8, Chan 6, Castro 6, Alapag 5, David 4, Norwood 2, Fajardo 2, Aguilar 2
Saudi Arabia 66 - A. Almuwallad 18, Mo. Almarwani 12, Alhwsawi 11, Abo Jalas 9, Ma. Almarwani 8, M. Almuwallad 4, Belal 2, Kabe 2, Alsager 0
Quarter scoring: 14-16, 35-28, 57-46, 78-66
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