Giles hurt but may suit up for Gilas

JAKARTA – American import CJ Giles escaped serious injuries from a bad fall during Smart Gilas’ match against Lebanon and could suit up for the national team’s quarterfinal match against tall Qatar today in the 20th FIBA-Asia Champions Cup at the Britama Arena here.

The Philippines brought down Kuwait, 98-93, last night and closed the elimination round with a second-best 3-1 win-loss card behind Iran (4-0).

It will fight Al Arabi of Qatar, which lost to unbeaten Jordan, 94-62, and finished third in Group B with a 2-2 card.

RP team doctors said the 6-11 reinforcement Giles had no bone fractures and torn ligaments following a scary fall in the third quarter of the Nationals’ 91-86 win over the Lebanese’ Al Riyadi team Friday.

“CJ was diagnosed with only a strained quadriceps, all he needs is to rest,” said RP strength and conditioning coach Jimbo Saret, who was joined here by physical therapist Albert Rolle.

But RP’s Serbian coach Rajko Toroman decided to rest the high-leaping Giles when Smart Gilas took on Qadsia of Kuwait late last night in the final elimination round playdate of the import-laced tournament.

“We’ll try to let him recover from that injury and not put him in the game against Kuwait so that he’ll have time to rest,” said Toroman. “I hope he can play in the quarterfinals and maybe in the semis.”

The win over Lebanon, which finished second in the 2007 FIBA-Asia Championship topped by the Toroman-mentored Iran in Tokushima, Japan, assured the Filipinos of a spot in the quarterfinals.

Giles’ absence should give the other big guys in the squad – Fil-Am Greg Slaughter, Jason Ballesteros and Aldrech Ramos – a chance to showcase their skills and talent and at the same time gain international experience.

“If he (Giles) doesn’t play, our big guys will get a lot of minutes and try to get some experience. Our goal is to fight and gain experience, those are really our goals,” said Toroman.

“If CJ can’t play, it will be (Jason) Ballesteros and (Greg) Slaughter. Maybe we will win, maybe not but for sure they will get some experience because our goal is 2011 (FIBA-Asia Championship or the Asian Olympic qualifier),” he added.

Satria Muda of Indonesia, which shocked Al Arabi of Qatar, 84-77, Friday night, won over the Young Cagers of India, 79-56, and finished tied with Qatar with a 2-2 card in Group B.

Indonesia took the second spot by virtue of the winner-over-the-other rule. 

“I haven’t seen Qatar play,” Toroman said.

Meanwhile, co-skipper Mark Barroca currently leads the team in terms of production with an average of 22 points, 4.67 steals, 4.3 assists and 3.6 rebounds in their first three outings.

Giles comes next with norms of 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds while Ababou and team captain Chris Tiu at second and third with averages of 11.6 points and five caroms and nine points and four rebounds, respectively.

The Nationals were outrebounded in all three games, 31.6-45.3, that underscored the team’s lack in ceiling.