Listless RP repulses Kuwait

TIANJIN – Powerade Team Pilipinas failed to put up the game it desired in preparation for the quarterfinals, pulling off a so-so 85-71 win over lowly Kuwait in the final day of the 25th FIBA Asia Championship eliminations at the Tianjin Gym here yesterday.

“I’m disappointed even if we won the game. I think of all the games we’ve played here, this is the worst in terms of energy level we put in. I don’t think we gave out our best,” said coach Yeng Guiao.

“We’re preparing ourselves for our quarters game, and this is not the best way to set up for that,” Guiao said.

The fiery national mentor, however, was hopeful they could bring back the intensity in their game as they take a shot at the semifinal round either against China or Jordan tomorrow.

Whichever they face in the quarterfinals, Guiao thinks they need a miracle to survive.

“Most probably, it’s going to be Jordan. They beat us by 30 points in the Jones Cup and I don’t know if we have improved by 30 points by this time. It’s going to be tough but we’re not giving up. We’ll look for the best way to have the best chance beating them,” said Guiao.

“Considering everything, we’re satisfied now that we have improved on our ninth-place finish in Tokushima, but we still want to push ourselves as hard as we can,” Guiao said.

That was something they didn’t do yesterday, allowing the undersized Kuwaitis to put up a semblance of a fight.

“We stayed right behind them but we knew we can’t beat them. They have so much skills and talent,” said Zoran Kreokovic, the Serbian coach of Kuwait.

Kerby Raymundo scored all his 10 points in the fourth quarter, fueling a run that gave them a 19-point lead.

“It was really a bad game and we’re hoping it won’t happen again,” said Raymundo.

A mediocre outing, however, proved more than enough for the Nationals to dispose of the Kuwaitis and finish third with a 3-2 mark in Group E.

Reigning champion Iran and Korea were to dispute the top seeding in the group later in the day.

The crossover quarterfinal round is set tomorrow.

Composing the quarters cast are Iran, Korea, Philippines and Chinese Taipei from Group E and China, Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar from Group F.

Iran, Korea, Chinese Taipei, China, Jordan and Lebanon were also quarterfinalists in Tokushima in 2007.

Failing to make a return stint in the quarters are Kazakhstan and Japan, bumped off by the Philippines and Qatar.

Practice was set yesterday afternoon and this morning as the Nationals gun for a semifinal spot, which would bring them close to advancing to the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Istanbul.

Being in the quarters, the Nationals have surpassed the country’s ninth place finish in Tokushima. The worst finish they could get here now is eighth.

NOTES: If Powerade Team Pilipinas fails to make the semis, SBP executive director Noli Eala said the team should still work hard to salvage fifth place since the FIBA is set to stage a wildcard qualifier for the world meet. “Four wildcard slots will be put at stake among 10 non-qualifiers from the five FIBA sub-zones. The fourth and fifth placers here are likely to be invited,” said Eala... Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman isn’t discounting the possibility of Powerade-RP beating Jordan. “All they need is one good day. Look at Lebanon, they nearly upset China,” said Toroman.

The scores:

RP 85 – Baguio 14, Taulava 12, Dillinger 10, Raymundo 10, Yap 9, Santos 9, Aguilar 9, Thoss 6, Norwood 3, Helterbrand 3, Miller 0.

Kuwait 71 – Alrabah 20, Ashkanani 20, Saeed 12, Fadhel Ah. 6, Alsaeid 4, Alhamidi 4, Alkhabbaz 3, Fadhel Ah. 2, Jamal 0.

Quarterscores: 17-13, 40-29, 60-51, 85-71