Nationals eye semis vs Lebanon

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas seeks a return trip to the semifinals as it battles Hoops of Lebanon today in the quarterfinal round of the 22nd Dubai Invitational basketball tournament at the Al Ahli Club gym.

“We did a shoot-around in the morning before the game and the players are confident and in high spirits,” said Smart Gilas team manager Frankie Lim, whose charges are playing the Lebanese club team at 1 a.m. (Phl time) today.

“We have a big chance to enter the semis, our shooting is really improving,” he said.

The Nationals are actually coming off an 89-91 loss to Al Wahda in their last match in the group stage but remain confident of their chances against the Lebanese.

The Filipinos wound up with a 2-2 (win-loss) slate and settled for No. 3 seeding and a quarters showdown with Group A No. 2 Hoops of Lebanon, backstopped by three imports, including the lightning-quick backcourt tandem of Americans Calvin Cage and William Byrd.

Smart Gilas also reached the semis last year but bowed to eventual second placer Al Riyadi of Lebanon.

The Filipinos then beat Al Jalaa of Syria to place third, the best finish by any Philippine team in the annual tournament.

Meanwhile, Lim welcomed the recent acceptance by the PBA allowing Smart Gilas to see action in its second conference saying it would toughen up the Filipinos as they prime for the FIBA-Asia Championship in August. The FIBA meet stakes a slot in the 2012 London Olympics.

“We’re very thankful to the PBA for allowing us to play. It will be good exposure for Smart Gilas and a very good test also for the players we have right now,” said Lim.

Naturalization candidate Marcus Douthit, who made 24 points and 14 rebounds against Al Wahda, is expected to lead Smart Gilas’ bid for a semis seat.

The other quarters matches pit Al Wahda against the United Arab Emirates national team also today, Al Ittihad of Syria against Al Ettihad of Egypt and Anibal Zahle and Sagesse of Lebanon both set tomorrow.