Smart Gilas finishes third in Jones Cup

HSINCHUANG, Taiwan—Before 7,000 screaming fans and countless flags waving, Smart Gilas Pilipinas accomplished its mission in the William Jones Cup.

Marcus Douthit delivered 28 points and 11 rebounds and Marcio Lassiter added 16 as the Philippine basketball team stamped out Chinese Taipei on its home floor, 82-72, to punctuate the nine-game tournament at the Hsinchuang Gymnasium with a third-place trophy on hand.

As injuries and exhaustion began to take its toll, the Filipinos unloaded one final blast by running down Chinese Taipei to the ground with an imposing performance in the lane anchored on the 6-foot-10 Douthit.

The Nationals also shut down shooters Chen An Hsin and Lin Chih Chieh to erase the stigma of a 19-point semifinal defeat against Iran and earn another third-place finish after the PH five accomplished it in 2005 and 2007 under coach Chot Reyes.

The team accomplished its goal with key players JV Casio and Marcio Lassiter sidelined by injuries. In their absence, Mark Barroca, Dondon Hontiveros and Lassiter gladly stepped up.

The Cebuano Hontiveros was three-of-eight from three-point range and finished with 13 while Barroca, who played extended minutes with Casio on the bench, added 10 points in a performance that fired up Smart Gilas on several ocassions. /Inquirer