Pinoys log highest score in Fiba Asia tourney

THE SMART-GILAS Pilipinas posted the highest scoring total in the tournament so far in beating Bahrain, 113-71, in the FIBA Asia Championship for Men yesterday in Wuhan, China.

Japeth Aguilar scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Nationals improved to 2-1 (win-loss), a good recovery from their 60-75 loss to China on Friday. The win also pushed the Nationals to the second round of the tournament.

The Gilas led, 25-9, in the first period but had that sliced down to single digits midway through the second canto.  Smart-Gilas entered halftime with a modest 51-40 lead.

Aguilar sparked a 19-0 run to start the second half and led the Philippines to a 35-7 scoring advantage over Bahrain to extend the lead to 86-47 en route to the easy win.

Smart-Gilas barely missed Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz, whose eligibility problems in the tournament remained unresolved.

Marcus Douthit scored 18 points and had nine rebounds, Jayvee Casio scored 15 and PBA reinforcements Asi Taulava and Ranidel De Ocampo both scored 13 for the Philippines. Mac Baracael scored 11 and Chris Tiu added 10 for Team Pilipinas.

Bahrain was never expected to challenge in this game, losing to China, 101-49, and UAE, 91-53, in their earlier Group D assignments.

Former De La Salle Green Archer Bader Malabes led Bahrain with 15 points, built around four three-pointers, and seven assists. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio