Smart-Gilas Pilipinas settles for fourth place

THE Smart-Gilas Pilipinas had to settle for fourth place as they fell to a hot-shooting Qatar team, 79-63, in the FIBA Asia Cup yesterday in Tokyo, Japan.

The wind was blown out of the sails of the Nationals in the fourth period when Qatar let loose of four three-point bombs that eventually downed the Gilas, who tried to keep in step in spite of the leg injury that was suffered by Marcus Douthit.

Yousuf Mohammed got the party started with a shot-clock beating trey that got their engine humming en route to erecting a 73-56 lead.

Most importantly, the win gave Qatar an outright berth to next year’s Asian championships.

For the Gilas, its fourth place finish matched the achievement of the original Gilas squad that was coached by Rajko Toroman. The loss yesterday was attributed to its putrid showing from beyond the arc, wherein the Nationals made just one of their first 16 tries.

Qatar took control of the lead in the first half as they let go of a brief 7-0 run for a 35-26 lead at halftime. Douthit twisted his ankle in that stretch after stepping on the foot of a Qatari big man.

Douthit continued to play through it and finished with 17 points while Gary David had 15.

BOX SCORES:

Qatar (79) – Mohmmed 17, Johnson 16, Abdi 14, Saeed 10, Daoud 7, Salem 5, Mohammed 4, Elhadary 4, Ali 2.

Philippines (63) – Douthit 17, David 15, Dillinger 12, Norwood 10, De Ocampo 4, Fonacier 3, Tenorio 2. /Correspondent Jonas PAnerio