Towering China routs Smart Gilas

THE SMART Gilas Pilipinas couldn’t just match up with the size of China as the Nationals absorbed a 75-60 beating yesterday in the Fiba Asia Championships at the Wuhan gymnasium in Wuhan, China.

Naturalized player Marcus Douthit scored 17 for the Philippines but had to deal with foul problems as the Nationals dropped to 1-1 (win-loss) in Group D after winning their opening assignment against the United Arab Emirates, 92-52, Thursday night.

Yi Jianlian, who plays for the Washington Wizards in the NBA,  dominated the game as he scored 20 points on top of 17 rebounds for China, which improved to 2-0. The Chinese first crushed Bahrain, 101-49.

Today, the Philippines eyes its second win when it takes on Bahrain while China faces UAE in Group D action.

The Filipinos tasted the lead for a while, 9-7, in the first quarter off a three-pointer by Jimmy Alapag.

But the Chinese started to impose their size down low with Yi scoring at will. China built its biggest lead of 25, 52-27, in the third.

The Filipinos managed to cut the deficit to 15, 40-55, at the end of the third when Yi was at the bench.

Fellow NBA player Wang Zhizhi then took over for China in the final canto as he piled up eight of his 16 points in that stretch that kept the Philippines at bay.

Chris Tiu was the only other player in double digits for the Gilas with 12. / Copy Editor Brian J. Ochoa