Smart-Gilas Pilipinas shows off fine form in exhibition match vs MLKP-Cebu Niños

Japeth Aguilar put on an aerial display and so did the rest of the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas as they showcased their savvy brand of basketball, annihilating the reigning Liga Pilipinas national champions, M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños, 89-62, in their exhibition match Wednesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Aguilar, Gilas’ 6-foot-9 forward, had 12 points but it was Chris Lutz who led the Gilas with 17 points.

Aguilar kicked off the party right as he led his team to an early lead in the first period behind four rim-rattling dunks. The Niños of head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba got close at 21-24, but the Gilas put in their work once again and let go of a 10-2 run with JV Casio accounting for five straight points.

Tempers flared somewhat at the 7:10 mark of that stretch as Niños’ guard Felix Belano and Lutz got slapped with a technical foul each because of a brief scuffle.

The Niños fought right back at the onset of the third period behind their three-point shooting as Allein Maliksi and Stephen Padilla anchored a 14-4 fightback that trimmed the visitors’ lead down to just six, 40-46.

However, the Gilas blew the game right out of the water with an incredible 22-5 run.

The Niños were led by the 14 of Abby Santos.

In other Gilas-related news, the team is bracketed in Group D in the preliminary round of the 26th FIBA Asia Championship with powerhouse China, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Two-time defending champion Iran drew Gulf competitor Qatar, East Asia’s Chinese-Taipei, and a yet to be named Middle Asia qualifier in Group B. Bracketed in Group A are Lebanon, Malaysia,  South Korea and a Middle Asia qualifier.

In Group C are Japan, Indonesia and West Asia’s Jordan and Syria.