Missing the point

Of course, the objective was to win the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup title. No sense in joining a tournament when the goal isn’t to win. But for Smart Gilas, the overriding aim was to gain more experience, confidence and familiarity with international playing conditions. The crown would’ve been a princely bonus.

Make no mistake about it, in every game that Gilas played, coach Rajko Toroman and his charges were out to win. Gilas could’ve recruited two imports to play alongside naturalized player Marcus Douthit and that would’ve made a difference against Mahram of Iran in the knockout semifinals. Imagine a Chris Alexander and a Diamon Simpson combining with Douthit in an awesome threesome for Gilas. That, however, would’ve defeated the purpose of Gilas joining the tournament. 

In the annual FIBA-Asia Champions Cup, each team is allowed to bring in two imports aside from naturalized or any other player holding a passport of the country he represents.  So in Gilas’ case, Douthit isn’t classified as an import, meaning Toroman could’ve reinforced his lineup with two imports – even the imports already in town for the PBA Governors Cup starting next Saturday. Toroman could’ve brought in Talk ‘N’ Text’s Maurice Baker and Meralco’s Champ Oguchi and they would’ve frolicked against Mahram.

Yet, with only Douthit in harness, Gilas nearly toppled defending back-to-back champion Mahram last Saturday. It took a lot of guts, courage and heart to stand up to Mahram whose roster listed grizzled veterans of the World Championships, Olympics, Asian Games and the FIBA-Asia Championships. Mahram’s crack locals were led by Samad Nikkah Bahrami and Mahdi Kamrani who were on the Iranian national team that won the FIBA-Asia title in 2007 and played at the Beijing Olympics the next year. Not content with the Iranian stars, coach Mehran Shahintab picked up Asian Games mainstays Asghar Kardoust and Hamed Afagh from other Iranian clubs to beef up Mahram. Afagh averaged 18.9 points and Kardoust, 12.5 points in the Guangzhou Asiad last year. Then, Mahram signed up 7-1 NBA veteran Cheik Samb and 6-7 hotshot Chris Williams to fortify the cast even more.

Toroman said Mahram enlisted the best players from the Iranian national team plus two top-notch imports. Still, Gilas wasn’t fazed.

Bad breaks down the stretch crushed Gilas’ chances to score an upset. Bahrami’s travel wasn’t called and it led to a decisive three-point basket in the final minutes. Gilas had two chances to bury a triple to send it into overtime but Mark Barroca and Marcio Lassiter failed to connect. Mahram won by only three, 80-77, despite a 21-7 advantage in free throw conversions. Gilas’ bench delivered 40 points compared to zero for Mahram.

Iran hardly subbed the entire game as every starter soaked in at least 35 minutes. What broke Gilas’ back was how the referees called it – Gilas was whistled for 28 fouls leading to 31 free throw attempts while Mahram only had 13 fouls leading to a paltry 10 foul shots.

* * * *

Gilas could’ve used Jimmy Alapag’s shooting arm against Mahram particularly as Dondon Hontiveros hit only 1-of-4 and Mac Baracael was 0-of-6. When Jvee Casio fouled out in the last few seconds, Toroman sent in Barroca cold from the bench. Barroca took a three-pointer under duress and missed. In that situation, maybe, Alapag would’ve been less pressured. Alapag is no stranger to taking big shots down the stretch with the game on the line.

Kelly Williams would’ve also been a huge contributor particularly in defending Bahrami who got away with 19 points. Lassiter, Chris Lutz and Baracael did their best to limit Bahrami but they couldn’t keep him under control because of the size mismatch.  Alapag and Williams will join Gilas after the Governors Cup which ends Aug. 16 at the latest.

What impressed the fans was Gilas’ valiant effort in pushing Mahram to the limit. The game featured 19 lead changes and 13 ties to underscore how tight it was. Remember that in the FIBA-Asia Championships in Wuhan this September, Iran won’t be reinforced by imports. Iran will likely draft NBA center Hamed Haddadi and sharpshooter Arsalan Kazemi of Rice University for Wuhan but they couldn’t be tougher than the Samb-Williams tandem.

The disappointment was how Gilas bowed to Al Rayyan of Qatar in the consolation battle for third place last Sunday. Gilas played with little intensity, like the players didn’t care to win. That kind of attitude must be addressed right away and corrected. Sure, the players were dejected after coming close to making it to the finals the night before. Sure, they were disheartened. Sure, they were disappointed. But there was still a game to play – before the homecrowd. Gilas owed it to the fans to play as proudly and courageously as in the game against Mahram. Besides, at stake was a bronze medal – finishing third would’ve been the Philippines’ best finish in the Champions Cup in 15 years. It would’ve meant joining Al Riyadi of Lebanon and Mahram on the podium.

* * * *

The listless effort was reminiscent of the Philippine team’s collapse in the playoff for the bronze medal at the Busan Asian Games in 2002. The Philippines lost to Korea on a buzzer-beating triple in the semifinals and lost heart in battling Kazakhstan for third. 

Al Rayyan showed up with two American imports Chauncey Leslie and Michael Cuffee and a slew of foreign recruits like Targuy Ngombo of Congo and Mame Souleye Ndour of Senegal. NBA veteran Brian Rowsom was Qatar’s coach. 

Gilas just couldn’t find the energy to beat Al Rayyan which has a long history in the Champions Cup with two titles, four runner-up finishes and three third-places. In the Champions Cup last year, Al Rayyan came back from a five-point halftime deficit to crush Gilas, 86-58, with Ngombo, Yaseem Musa, Erfran Ali Saeed and Omar Salem in the lineup. This year, the four Qatari stalwarts were back to haunt Gilas.

Gilas’ lack of energy showed in its failure to crash the boards. Japeth Aguilar had seven rebounds against Iran but only two against Qatar. Lassiter pulled down eight boards against Iran but only three against Qatar. In all, Al Rayyan grabbed 58 rebounds to Gilas’ 38. 

Worse, Gilas’ shooters took the night off. Hontiveros went 0-of-5, Lassiter 2-of-8, Baracael 2-of-9  and Chris Tiu, 1-of-7. Even Casio struggled with 4-of-12. 

There were lessons to be learned from the experience. Toroman said it’s now clear where the gaps are and the challenge is to fill them in. What’s also clear is Gilas’ improvement as a fighting unit. Gilas didn’t win the Champions Cup crown but it earned the respect of the Asian basketball community as a serious contender once more for regional supremacy.