Gilas Pilipinas claims huge victory after downfall

Marcus Douthit facing the double defense of the black shirted Japan.

Photo Source: Internet

                                                              By Elyrose S. Naorbe

          After a hard loss over Chinese Taipei on their previous game, Team Gilas Pilipinas wake up from grave and pulled a decisive victory as they fires off the black shirted players from the Land of the Rising Sun (Japan) posting the final score to 90-71 in the FIBA Asia 2013.

         Like in their previous game versus Chinese Taipei, the host team turned it on in the third period, outscoring Japan 29-15 in the frame, back boned by Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood and Marcus Douthit.

         A 75-51 advantage at the start of the fourth was enough for Gilas to move into cruise control, despite a last 12-4 push by the visiting team.

        Douthit best player of the game for the Philippines collected 19 points and 10 rebounds. Chan notched 16 points; making 4-of-5 attempts from beyond the arc, while LA Tenorio and Ranidel De Ocampo combined in nine markers each off the bench.

        It was also an emotional victory for the team, as gunner Gary David after struggling in the outside and inside perimeter shot, finally made his first three-pointer of the tournament, a corner attempt in the game's dying seconds.

       Japeth Aguilar helped Gilas' offense in the second quarter as he displayed two monstrous dunks to complement a Ranidel De Ocampo trey, 25-19. But as the period went on, Japan muscled their way inside. JR Sakuragi drew fouls and went to the line, scoring 10 of Japan's last 12 points. Gilas' three-point shooting kept them ahead though, with three of their last four baskets coming from beyond the arc to keep a 46-36 halftime lead.

     Gilas shot better from the field after two quarters, making 14-of-33 (42 percent) against Japan's 11-of-29 (38 percent) clip. They were also up 10-0 in turnover points, off a 3-8 turnover advantage.

     The last quarter opened as Jeff Chan launches back-to-back triples to kick start a 15-4 Gilas romp. Norwood attacked the rim and Douthit struck from midrange to create a commanding 63-40 lead midway through the quarter.

      The ball game ended as Gilas Pilipinas proved supremacy after a 19 point advantage over Japan and improved to 2-1 in Group E and dropped Japan to 1-2, as wins against eliminated teams, namely Group A's Saudi Arabia for the locals, are not factored into the second round tally.