Team SMART Gilas Pilipinas showed unity, teamwork and heart to defeat a healthier South Korean squad 86-79. The win earns them a slot at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
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Written by
Jude Bautista
No one could have scripted a more dramatic semifinal game at the FIBA ASIAN Championships at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Philippines faced rival South Korea who had eliminated the Filipinos in other international basketball competitions in 1986, 2009 and 2011. But SMART Gilas Pilipinas finally took the monkey off their back by winning a nail-biting game 86-79 off a Jimmy Alapag trey in the last minute.
Jimmy Alapag sank a crucial trey in the last minute to seal the 86-79 win over South Korea. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
From left: DFA Sec Albert Del Rosario, SBP Pres. Manny V Pangilinan, PLDT Pres. & CEO Napoleon Nazareno and SMART Pres. and (foreground) Chief adviser/ Pres. of SUN Doy Vea. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
The win earned not only a finals slot against IRAN, Sunday August 11 but also an assured ticket to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. The event is considered as the most prestigious international basketball tournament, second only to the Olympics and is also held every four years. Participating cities include Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao and even the Canary Islands.
Jason Castro Williams went on a tear to open the second half. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
The Filipino trait of heart and resilience showed itself in this game more than any other. As early as the 6:25 mark of the 2nd quarter, naturalized center Marcus Douthit re-aggravated a shin injury forcing him out of the game. With a towel covering his face due to pain on his way to the dug out, players and fans thought this would be an even more difficult battle. Ranidel De Ocampo also one of SMART Gilas’ centers had already been called 4 fouls at this point.
Team SMART Gilas Pilipinas showed unity, teamwork and heart to defeat a healthier South Korean squad 86-79. The win earns them a slot at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Larry Fonacier kisses his family after the win. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
The Pinoy frontline made up for Douthit’s loss with tenacity underneath the boards and fearless scoring inside the paint. Marc Pingris would be the Best player of the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds. As Douthit sat on the bench Pingris scored a semi hook late in the 2nd Quarter after Seung Jun Lee was called for a goal tending violation. The next play Pingris got a crucial offensive rebound and shot free throws to cut the Koreans’ lead 36-39 at half time.
Team SMART Gilas Pilipinas showed unity, teamwork and heart to defeat a healthier South Korean squad 86-79. The win earns them a slot at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Ranidel De Ocampo took his game to a higher level after Douthit’s injury. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
To open the 3rd quarter Talk N Text point guard Jason Castro Williams went on a tear. His quick first step allowed him to blow by his guard and score 6 points off lay ups by the 7:20 mark giving SMART Gilas a 42-39 lead. After a tip in to push the lead Pingris himself had to be taken out of the game momentarily due to a hamstring injury. Ranidel De Ocampo scored off baskets inside the paint. But Korean guard Mingoo Kim had streaky 3-point shots to keep the game close. By the end of the 3rd quarter Japeth Aguilar was able to have an emphatic slam to give SMART Gilas a 65-56 lead.
Marc Pingris was the best player of the game. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
South Korea’s Seung Jun Lee had 2 goal tending violations. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
The Koreans came back in the 4th quarter through fast breaks and 3pt bombs from Tae Sul Kim, Mingoo Kim and Seung Sun Lee. Mingoo had a 4-point play 4:43 mark helping them cut the lead 73-72. In spite of the strong surge, SMART Gilas had contributions from other players like L.A. Tenorio with timely treys. South Korea eventually took the lead off a Tae Sul basket 77-76 closing in to the last 2:35.
L.A. Tenorio sank crucial treys. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Marc Pingris sheds tears of joy. Watch SMART Gila vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Ranidel De Ocampo’s hook shot got the lead back in 2:12, 77-78. The most crucial play came from Pingris’ steal from Korea’s star center Joo Sung Kim which led to a De Ocampo trey. After that Alapag sealed the game with another 3 pointer going into the last minute to put the Filipinos up permanently. Gabe Norwood also came up with a crucial block with 45 seconds to go on Mingoo Kim who had been sinking 3pointers the whole night.
Gabe Norwood came up with an important block on Mingoo Kim. Watch SMART Gilas vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
TV5 Sports Center from left; Mico Halili, Coach Yeng Guiao and Coach Richard Del Rosario. Watch SMART Gilas vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
The success in this particularly historic game is the culmination of hard work, organization, financing and faith from a host of companies led by SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) President Manny V Pangilinan. Analyst Yeng Guiao noted that having the FIBA Games held here was a huge factor in the success of the team. Their country mates offering encouragement and support spelled the difference for the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team that had seen so much heartbreak in previous tourneys.
From left: DFA Sec Albert Del Rosario, SBP Pres. Manny V Pangilinan and PLDT Pres. & CEO Napoleon Nazareno. Watch SMART Gilas vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Coach Chot Reyes Shed Tears of joy after the win. Watch SMART Gilas vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Speaking at the TV5 Sports center PBA Coach Yeng Guiao said, “This is a very historic moment for Philippine basketball. Its not just an emotional win, can you imagine na unahan na natin ang CHINA? We’re at least no. 2 we can win a championship. Ang CHINA wala na. The only team that we haven’t beaten is IRAN. Actually di natin tinalo CHINESE TAIPEI it does not matter any more. We earned a ticket to the World Championship. It’s like going to the Olympics and we haven’t gone to the Olympics in a long time. We haven’t gone to the World Championship in a long time. We have to congratulate boss MVP the SBP President, coach Chot Reyes, the whole team because they deserve it. They really deserve it and they have the appreciation of the whole country right now.”
Pingris asks ref about goal tending violation. Watch SMART Gilas vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Philippines 86 – Castro/William (pts 17 asst 3), Pingris (pts 16 reb 10), Alapag (pts 14 reb 3), De Ocampo (pts 11 reb 6), (Tenorio pts 9 rebs 3), Aguilar (pts 8 rebs 4), Chan 5, Norwood (pts 2 block 1), Fonacier 2, Douthit (pts 2 blocks 2) , David 0, Fajardo 0.
South Korea 79 – M.Kim 27, J.Kim 11, Yang 11, S.Lee 10, J.Lee 10, S.Cho 6, S.Kim 2, S.Kim 2, Yoon 0, J.Kim 0.
Quarters: 15-19, 36-39, 65-56, 86-79
Watch SMART Gilas vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Senator Jaworski, Aga Muhlach and family were among those who witnessed the historic win by SMART Gilas over S. Korea. Watch SMART Gilas vs IRAN at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Watch SMART Gilas vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Bossing Vic Sotto is Marc Pingris father in law. Sotto will also return to TV5 as host of WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? Watch SMART Gilas vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Team SMART Gilas Pilipinas showed unity, teamwork and heart to defeat a healthier South Korean squad 86-79. The win earns them a slot at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. Watch SMART Gilas vs IRAN tonight at the MOA Arena tonight or on TV5 at 830pm.
Text and Photos by Jude Bautista
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