master jedi.....paluin nyo nga sa pwet ang mga yan......![]()
di kaya pag may maboboteng usapan at nalasing si SG & archie...lalo magkagulo?![]()
Sana bukas, start of a new week, medyo maliwanag na din sky!![]()
Fasten your seatbelt! Or else...Driven To Thrill!
dedmahan na lang muna..walang mangyayari kapag ganyan...nandito tayo to make friends....
Smart Gilas slams KSA in Fiba opener
By Joey Villar (The Philippine Star) Updated May 29, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (8)![]()
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Japeth Aguilar of Smart Gilas slams it in against Saudi Arabia in the Filipinos’ opening game in the FIBA-Asia tourney. JUN MENDOZA![]()
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Manila, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas leaned on another superb effort from Japeth Aguilar as it whitewashed Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, 101-69, to set in motion its title bid in the 22nd FIBA-Asia Champions Cup at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The 6-foot-9 Aguilar hit 10 of his 11 shots, including a pair of thunderous slam dunks, to finish with 20 points while naturalized player Marcus Douthit bulldozed his way to 18 points to help seal the Nationals their first win in this import-laden, nine-day tournament.
“He’s in his best shape since he joined the team. He’s really improving,” said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman, referring to Aguilar, who also fired 23 points in a 99-63 demolition of this same team during a tuneup match a few days back.
The Filipinos had a slow, error-free start.
After trailing twice midway in the first quarter, Smart Gilas slowly but tried to break loose and managed to do it only midway in the second period when the unstoppable pair of Aguilar and Douthit sparked the onslaught as the host seized a 45-31 lead at the break.
It was cruise control from there as the Nationals made the proper defensive adjustment while JV Casio, who scattered 11 points, lit a series of runs for the Filipinos, who are seeking to improve their fifth place finish in 2009 in Jakarta, Indonesia and seventh last year in Qatar.
In Group B action, reigning back-to-back champion Mahram of Iran bared its fangs as it smashed a Samaki Walker-led Al Jalaa of Syria, 86-59, to launch its three-peat bid in this event considered the strongest club tournament in the region.
In another Group A match, Applied Science U of Jordan relied on a big fourth quarter push as it turned back an upset-conscious Duhok of Iraq, 74-66, for an early share of the lead.
Chris Williams had a near flawless game as he pumped in 15 of his 17 shots from the field to lead all scorers with 24 points while seven-foot Senegalese Cheikh Tidian Samb chipped in 12 points he spiked with eight rebounds and a whopping six blocks to help Mahram, which recently topped the Iranian Premier League.
Walker, an NBA journeyman who was part of the Los Angeles Lakers that topped the 2002 NBA season, paced the Syrians with 16 points and nine boards.
Smart Gilas takes on the KL Dragons of Malaysia, a late replacement for Asean Basketball League titlist and FIBA-suspended Thailand, today at 6 p.m. hoping to remain unscathed and on track in topping Group A.
The Nationals take a one-day break tomorrow before resuming their campaign against Duhok of Iraq at 8 p.m. on Tuesday and ASU of Jordan at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
Dondon Hontiveros, loaned by Air21 to the team, had a rough debut for Smart Gilas as he missed 10 of the 11 shots he took for two points while Asi Taulava, who is from Meralco, didn’t score a basket but had seven caroms and two assists.
“It was Dondon’s first game since he joined the team three weeks ago. The real Dondon did not show up. Maybe in the next few games we’ll the see the real him play,” said Toroman.
Champions Cup notes: Organizers didn’t leave anything to chance as security was so strict that they even checked the bags of the players...Japan, one of the traditional powerhouses in the region, was supposed to participate but eventually backed out because of the tsunami tragedy that happened back home. “We’re supposed to have Japan with us. But because of the situation, they couldn’t come,” said FIBA-Asia president Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al-Thani of Qatar...Al-Thani said they hope to get China and Korea to join in the near future. “Hopefully in the future, we’ll have them here,” he said...There were also some celebrities like Valerie Concepcion, who is linked to Dondon Hontiveros...
al ittihad? e maski UST tigers kayang talunin yan...ano ba naman yan.....
^ kaya nga eh.....nagsasaya na sila dyan sa atin, eh ball club lang dito sa saudi yan. nya-ha-ha!
pag yung nat'l. team na ng saudi tinalo nila, pwede pa siguro. dati kasi, tinalo na ng saudi yung qatar team...malakas na yun.
dapat inimbita nila...yung nat'l team ng jordan, qatar, uae, syria, japan, china....ayan, bibilib pa 'ko.
Last edited by chua_riwap; May 29th, 2011 at 03:59 PM.
^ uy, good news for the Nat'l team ah.![]()
Fasten your seatbelt! Or else...Driven To Thrill!