Smart-Gilas Pilipinas overcame a sluggish start and welcomed the return of two of its key players to down a familiar foe in Jordan, 72-64, at the start of the second round in the FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.
Controversy once again reared its ugly head for the Nationals as Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter, both of whom have missed all three of the Gilas’ games in the first round because of eligibility issues raised by the organizers, were told 15 minutes before yesterday’s match that they would still not be allowed to play even after being given clearance by FIBA.
This resulted in some unfocused play by the Gilas leading to an 11-29 deficit in the second period. However, Lassiter and Lutz were eventually given the go-signal to play, which buoyed the Gilas’ spirits and pushed them to just five at halftime, 26-31, after a three-pointer by JV Casio and a three-point play by naturalized player Marcus Douthit.
The Nationals kept their hot streak in the ensuing canto as back-to-back treys by Lassiter and Jimmy Alapag gave them a 47-41 lead. The Nationals established their largest lead of the game at eight, 59-51, after Lassiter swished the last of his four three-point bombs with 6:15 left in the game.
Jordan remained in the thick of things as it got to within just two, 62-64.
But that proved to be Jordan’s last stand as Douthit, Kelly Williams and Chris Tiu all hit two freethrows each to peg their lead at six, 70-64. Williams capped the victory with an emphatic reverse slam as time expired.
Douthit, who courageously continued to play even after suffering an ankle sprain in the third, ended up with 19 points and 15 rebounds while Lassiter added 14 markers.
The Nationals will next play against Japan today.