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CHINESE TAIPEI: It may be a mere preparation
tournament but San Miguel-Team Pilipinas but the desire to win was
very much evident for the Filipinos who sent a clear message to the
field by stinging defending champion Athletes in Action, 72-67 in
the opening match of the 29th William Jones cup basketball
tournament last night at the Sinjhuang Gym.
Trailing by five, 52-57 going
into the last 5:14 of the contest, Team Pilipinas got the lift it
needed from Jimmy Alapag who keyed an initial 8-0 run by banging in
a triple Mick Pennisi followed suit with another howitzer and Kerby
Raymundo scored on a curling lay-up to push the Filipinos ahead,
60-57.
After Reed Rawling responded for
the Americans, Alapag rifled in his fourth triple of the match and
then Mark Caguioa finally get going by scoring the last nine points
for San Miguel-Pilipinas which definitely sent hock waves not only
to AIA but the eight other teams entered in the ten-day meet.
“Jimmy bailed us out big time
and Mark finished the job for us,”said National coach Vincent
“Chot” Reyes.
Alapag finished the contest with
19 points. San Miguel-Team Pilipinas put together a 12-0 run ending
the second quarter to erect a 39-31 advantage at the halftime break.
But the Filipinos were held to
only six points on three free throws and a three-point shot by
Dondon Hontiveros in the third period as the American seized the
upperhand, 46-45 at the end of the third period.
In the other opening day matches,
Korea nipped Qatar, 7-69; Jordan won over Kazakhstan, 63-61; and
Lebanon beat Iran, 80-71.
Lebanon and San Miguel-Team
Pilipinas mix it up at 5:30 p.m. seeking a second straight win and
tournament leadership.
While Lebanon does not present an
immediate threat as far as the Philippines’ dreams of returning to
the Olympics is concerned, Reyes says there is a need to scout the
Lebanese well and take a good hard look at them.
“There’s a good possibility
of us meeting the Lebanese in the quarterfinals of the FIBA-Asia
Men’s Championship in Tukoshima, Japan. If we finish second in
Group A, I’m sure we’ll face Lebanon in the quarterfinals,”
said Reyes.
“Napakaswerte ng Lebanon kasi
ang Group B ang pinakamadaling group. Siguradong sila ang magiging
top team ng Group B. Tayo dadaan sa butas ng karayom sa Group A.”
The Philippines is bracketed in
what some experts describe as “The Group of Death” as Group A
has powerhouse China, Iran and Jordan.
“Walang panapon sa Group A.
Kung mayroon man, baka tayo iyon considering that we only started
preparing last March 12,” said Reyes.
“We’ve played Lebanon a
couple of times and we’ve fared well against them. we’ve in fact
beaten them. They will also take part in the Manila Invitationals,”
said Reyes. “But who knows, baka pati sila nagtatago ng baraha?”
The Lebanese national team is
reinforced by Joe Vogel and Brian Feghnali, a pair of players who
have seen action in the NBA.
What Reyes and San Miguel-Team
Pilipinas are really preparing hard for are the games against Jordan
on Friday and Iran on Saturday. Both have sent their respective
national teams.
“Hindi naman sana tayo pupunta
dito sa Jones Cup if organizers did not assure us that we’ll be
going up against the national teams of Iran and Jordan. This is a
very good opportunity for us to gauge our strength and that of these
two countries three weeks before Tukoshima.,” said Reyes.
Scores:
San Miguel-Team Pilipinas 72 -
Alapag 19, Caguoa 14, Pennisi 11, Hontiveros 11, Norwood 7, Taulava
5, Raymundo 5, de Ocampo 0, Helterbrand 0, Williams 0, Canaleta 0.
Athletes in Action 67 - Hendley
11, Gibson 10,Wilkerson 10, Rawlings 9, Sloan 8, T. Pollitz 6,
Nichols 5, Ruoff 5, E.Pollits 2, Hammonds 1, Harris 0, Asbury 0.
Quarters: 21-25; 39-31; 45-46;
72-67.
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