Gilas holds off Lebanon for first win

TOKYO – With Marcus Douthit its main source of strength, Smart Gilas Pilipinas worked on a tough defense to make up for another offensive struggle, repulsing reigning champion Lebanon, 78-68, Saturday night in the fourth FIBA Asia Cup here.

Douthit showed up collegiate teammate Garnett Thompson and the whole Gilas team made the Lebanese bleed for their points as the Nationals bounced back from their opening-day loss to China much to the delight of the cheering Filipinos at the Ota Gymnasium.

The naturalized Filipino player feasted on the naturalized Lebanese at the post, anchoring Gilas’ strong windup against the team that dealt the Filipinos their lone defeat in their Jones Cup title run.

“We needed to bounce back from a tough loss and we felt that we had something to avenge against this team,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes.

“I felt that somebody has to step up, and I took the job,” said Douthit on his king-size job versus his former Providence College teammate.  

Douthit collected 25 points and 21 rebounds as against Thompson’s 17 markers and 11 boards.

The 6-foot-10 behemoth scored nine points in a lethal 11-5 attack, giving the Filipinos the momentum in their triumphant finish.

Lebanese coach Ghassan Sarkis didn’t hide his disappointment on Thompson whom he kept on the bench in the last three minutes of the game.

The Nationals return to play at 2 p.m. (1 p.m. in Manila) Sunday, going for a second straight win versus Uzbekistan.

Earlier, host Japan, boosted by the return of naturalized player JR Sakuragi, made it two in a row with a 90-78 win over the debuting Chinese-Taipei side in a Group B play.

Sakuragi, a former UCLA Bruin with a tour of duty in the PBA using his original named JR Henderson, churned out remarkable all-around numbers of 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists with wing man Takatoshi Furukawa adding 16 points coming off the bench.

Uzbekistan walloped Macau, 81-61, in the other Group A match while Qatar dumped India, 84-63, in the other Group B tussle.

Gilas’ shooting struggle on opening day continued in the early goings versus Lebanon as the Nationals trailed, 38-41, at the half.

The Filipinos also needed to make quick adjustments on defense with Douthit picking up a second foul just four minutes into the contest.

The Lebanese, led by longtime star Fadi El-Kathib, opened with a 10-6 spurt, took the opening quarter at 20-19 and led by six, 38-32, on a 12-2 tear midway through the second period.

Gary David rifled in a trey, Jared Dillinger nailed a charity and Gabe Norwood scored on a breakaway layup off a steal by Ranidel de Ocampo as the Nationals made it close at the half.

The Nationals kept on going from the halftime break and raced ahead, 59-53, going into the fourth quarter.

It could have been an eight-point margin for the Filipino after the third period but Chan missed an awkward layup at the buzzer.