Gilas whip Chinese-Taipei, clinch 3rd place at Jones Cup

Source:gmanews.tv

Smart Gilas Pilipinas salvaged some measure of respectability when it clinched third place in the 33rd William Jones Cup basketball tournament by whipping host Chinese-Taipei Sunday night at the Hsinjhuang Stadium at the New Taipei City.

Marcus Douthit poured in 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the win that matched the third place finish achieved by the SMC-Team Pilipinas of coach Chot Reyes during the 2007 edition of the annual cagefest.

Somehow, it also soothed the pain of the team's disappointing 59-78 loss to two-time defending champion Iran Saturday night that denied Smart Gilas a berth in the winner-take-all Finals.

"We need this game, we need this win," admitted Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman. "We need this for our confidence because it leaves a bad taste in the mouth after our bad game against Iran."

Toroman referred to the 19-point loss to the Iranians as `the worst game we played since we formed Smart Gilas.'

Marcio Lassiter had 16 points for Smart Gilas and Dondon Hontiveros 13 as the duo made up for the absence of JV Casio (swollen left knee) and Chris Lutz (swollen left elbow).

The Nationals didn't allow the Taiwanese and the huge partisan crowd to get into the game as they readily took control right from the get go.

They led by six after the first 10 minutes and then stretched it to 43-34 at the break.

From a 13-point lead, Douthit combined with Lassiter, Hontiveros and Japeth Aguilar, whose jarring two-handed slam gave the Nationals a commanding 74-42 edge in the final 4:51 of the match, drawing cheers from several OFW crowd which was joined by Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano and wife, Mayor Lani Cayetano of Taguig City, Powerade governor JB Baylon and Maynilad's Patrick Gregorio.

Smart Gilas also held Chinese-Taipei ace Chen Hsin An to just four points.