Nationals face Lebanese in final

Failing to get its wish for another game with China, the SMC-Philippine quintet, instead, battles old customer Lebanon at the close of the Smart Four-Nation Manila Invitational Championship today at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Philippines measured up to the challenge of Syria and its “Bra-Syrian” recruits, carving out a 92-79 victory last night at The Arena in San Juan to arrange a title duel with Lebanon.

Earlier in the day, Lebanon pounded on the early ouster on fouls by Chinese top guns Yi Lin and Wang Bo to score a 77-71 win and gain entry into the finals of the four-day tourney.

The Philippines, Lebanon and China finished the elims with identical 2-1 win-loss records. The Filipinos and the Lebanese advanced to the finals on superior quotient.

RP team coach Chot Reyes was happy they made it to the finals but unhappy they didn’t get a rematch with the Chinese whom they will be playing in elimination round of the FIBA-Asia Olympic qualifier in Tokushima, Japan.

Reyes is hopeful his team would become the first RP squad to beat China in over two decades in their Tokushima tiff. The last time an RP squad beat a China men’s team was way back in the 1985 ABC championship. The Nationals were then bannered by Dennis Still, Jeff Moore, Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic and Hector Calma.

Against the Syrians, it should have been an automatic defeat for the Nationals if it were a FIBA tourney since the host team showed up in a wrong uniform color. It’s another big booboo the squad can’t afford in Tokushima.

Jimmy Alapag redeemed himself from his endgame meltdown that caused the RP loss to China Friday as he erupted for 28 points, leading the Nationals to a vengeful win over the Syrians.

RP lost to Syria in their Champions Cup showdown in Iran but the Syrians then played with imports.

Renren Ritualo, Gabe Norwood, Dondon Hontiveros and Kelly Williams each added at least 11 for the Nationals who outscored the Syrians in each of the last three quarters.

The Nationals played steadily, taking control most of the way although playing minus Danny Seigle, Mark Caguioa, James Yap and Jayjay Helterbrand.

Bra-Syrians Marcelo Correa and Eduardo Farhat combined for 34 points, 17 rebounds and six assists for the losing team.

The Lebanese, meanwhile, rode high on the endgame exploits of guard Ali Mahmmoud and do-it-all star Fade El Khatib as they overcame a sluggish start to subdue the Chinese.

Still down by two in the final two minutes of play, the Lebanese drew two triples from Mahmmoud and a twinner from El Khatib in a crucial eight-to-nothing closing run to salvage the game and a slot in the finals.

The Lebanese needed to win by five points or more to make the title game.