Gilas absorbs 2nd straight loss in NZ sans Douthit

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas absorbed its second straight defeat in its 10-day New Zealand training camp at the hands of NBL’s Final Four team Wellington Saints, 96-100, Tuesday at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Wellington.

The Nationals fought gallantly without naturalized center Marcus Douthit, who sat out due to a bad back. But they came up short to lose for the second straight time after absorbing a heartbreaking 86-85 loss to the NBL All Stars bannered by four imports last Sunday.

Gilas won its first two games, 73-70 and 82-78, sweeping NBL club Hawkes Bay Hawks at the start of the camp.

In this game, The Filipinos gearing for the FIBA Asia Men's Championship at home went to a rousing start leading by 10, 30-20, in the opening quarter.

Gilas was still ahead, 92-86, inside the five minutes left when the Saints closed out the game with a 14-4 run behind their imports, who made all but one of their final 14 points.

“Lost 96-100,” Reyes broke the sad news on his Twitter account (@coachot) right after the game. “Couldn’t stop Saints imports Kareem Johnson (30 pts) and Bryant Markson (32 pts) without Marcus Douthit (bad back).”

Despite the loss, Reyes saw a silver lining that may boost the confidence of the other members of Gilas frontline.

“Still, it was a great game. Junemar (Fajardo), Japeth (Aguilar  and Ping (Marc Pingris) held their own before they fouled out,” Reyes said. “We took a positive step despite d loss.”

Reyes was sad though for the Filipino overseas workers and migrants, who went to watch the game.

“We wanted to win for the Pinoy fans though,” Reyes added.

Gilas kept in step with their bigger rivals with their hot outside shooting. 

The troika of Gary David, Jimmy Alapag and Jeff Chan combined for 9-of-16 shooting from beyond the arc.

David finished with 12 points including a four-point play in the final 30 seconds that closed the gap, 96-98. He and Ranidel de Ocampo, however, missed on Gilas last two attempts to yield the game. 

Alapag and Chan, meanwhile, added 11 apiece while Gabe Norwood paced the Nationals with 13 points on top of four boards and four steals. De Ocampo chipped in nine and six boards plus two steals.

The other Filipino point guards LA Tenorio and Jayson Castro also did their share.  Tenorio scored nine points and dished out three assists while Castro had an all-around game of eight markers, seven assists, four boards and two steals.

Aguilar contributed seven points and six boards while Fajardo chipped in six markers, five boards and two blocks.   

Gilas will next play the Supercity Rangers in Auckland on Wednesday before winding up the 10-day training camp against the Tall Blacks (New Zealand national team) on Thursday.