THE SMART-GILAS Pilipinas did not waste any time in announcing their intentions to take the championship as they routed Singapore, 96-58, at the start of the Seaba qualifying tournament for the FIBA Asia Cup in Chiang Mai, Thailand yesterday.
The Nationals did their work early on as they led by 25 points at the turn behind the hot shotmaking of Gilas pioneers, Chris Tiu and naturalized center, Marcus Douthit. Together, they combined to score 21 of the Nationals’ total points in that stretch for a 45-20 lead.
Douthit finished with 21 while Tiu, the former Ateneo ace who has yet to decide on whether or not he will join the PBA Draft, wound up with 18 markers.
It was a balanced scoring effort on all fronts for the Gilas as Garvo Lanete, the younger brother of pro Chico and former University of the Visayas standout, Von, finished with 11, the same output as Alaska Aces point guard LA Tenorio.
Next on the menu for the Gilas will be Indonesia.
BOX SCORES:
SMART-Gilas Pilipinas – Douthit 21, Tiu 18, Tenorio 11, Lanete 11, Thoss 9, Baracael 7, Marcelo 6, Hermida 6, Ramos 4, Monfort 3, Co 0.
Singapore – Folkoff 12, Ng 10, Oh 9, Khoo 8, Teo 7, Lim 6, Wong 2, Koh 2, Matialakan 2. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio