Jordan snaps Smart-Gilas Pilipinas’ streak in Jones Cup

THE winning streak of the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas came to an end at the hands of Jordan, 72-76 yesterday in the third day of the 33rd William Jones Cup in Taiwan.

The Nationals started their campaign with a pair of impressive victories against Iran and Chinese Taipei, but appeared to be playing on tired legs yesterday, as they committed three costly turnovers in the final minute that doomed their fate.

Trailing by just two, 72-74 with under a minute left, swingman Marcio Lassiter got caught stepping out of bounds after receiving a pass from JV Casio. Afterwards, Casio lost the ball to the sidelines after being pressured by Rasheim Wright, thus sealing their fate.

Sam Daghles finished with 16 points including two free throws that iced the game for Jordan, which remained unbeaten at 3-0. Both teams struggled with their shots until the final stretch.

Jordan posted its biggest lead at 62-53 early in the fourth quarter with a 6-0 blitz capped by a Rasheim Wright breakaway slam off an errand pass. But refusing to go down without a fight, Smart Gilas uncorked an, 8-0 run to cut the deficit to one, 61-62, at the 6:20 mark of the fourth.

The Jordanians then made the most of the Nationals’ missed shots by turning these into easy layups. Smart Gilas struck back and tied the knot at 66 off Baracael’s freebies after a Marcus Douthit three-point play.

Casio tied the ball game anew at 69 with a catch and fire triple with 2:56 remaining after Jordan momentarily led courtesy of the first of two clutch long bombs from marksman Enver Soozokov. Soozokov’s second shot from downtown came at the 1:49 mark to give Jordan a 74-69 cushion, a killer shot which came off the inbound violation committed by Lassiter.

Playmaker Mark Barroca led Smart Gilas with 13 points, 11 coming in the first period alone. Chris Lutz and Baracael had 10 points apiece while skipper Chris Tiu added eight.  /Correspondent Jonas Panerio