FIBA Asia: Philippines beat Japan!

PHI/JPN - Filipino 3rd quarter blitz hands Japan their first defeat

WUHAN, China (26th FIBA Asia Championship): Philippines ran a 26-12 third quarter – which included a 10-0 run which brought them back into the reckoning in the game – that eventually helped them beat Japan 83-76 thus handing the latter’s first defeat in the competition here.

Naturalized center Marcus Douthit (pic above) poured in 19 of his 25 points and collected 12 of his 18 rebounds – both game-highs – in the second half to spark yet another Filipino rally that might have just helped them get a “better cross over draw in the quarterfinals.”

Japan ran the floor hard early and seized the initiative with a 15-0 run that went across the first quarter break.

But a woefully dipping rate of conversion from the foul-line and an increasingly growing in cohesion and cohesion Philippines put paid to the Japanese hopes of remaining undefeated in the competition.

Kelly Williams, one of the PBA imports in the Philippines team sparked a 10-0 run – capped by Marcio Lassiter’s crisp long-ranger – bring the Smart Gilas back into the reckoning.

Japan managed to remain even, but only till a 14-2 run – this time with Douthit leading from the front and Jimmy Alapag setting the Wuhan SC ablaze with a fiery three-pointer – put Philippines in control.

Rajko Toroman’s team never fell back after that.

“The key was we stopped Takuya Kawamura,” Rajko said.

Japan’s most charismatic basketball face in recent face was restricted to a dozen points – six of them in the third quarter – as the Hayabusa struggled with their rebounds and free-throws.

“You can’t think of winning with a 57% conversion in free-throws,” rued Japan coach Tom Wisman.

Japan went to the foul-line 28 times, but only 16 of them were successful.

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Jones Cup: Smart Gilas Pilipinas vows to SOKOR 78-70!

Smart Gilas Pilipinas showed tremendous improvement in terms of competitiveness and maturity in the system approach of Coach Rajko Toroman wanted to emphasize. They are now becoming more dangerous every game and make some statement every game.

Mostly composed of amateur players, Smart Gilas Pilipinas was formed two years ago with raw talents and inexperienced in international scene. But with coach Rajko Toroman guidance and patience this team starting to be one of the most dangerous teams in Asia.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas currently campaigning for Jones Cup 2011 and after five games they have a standing of 3-2 but what is more promising is their maturity and discipline inside the court. Lost to South Korea just a while ago with a score of 78-70 but not after the scary run that makes the Koreans give their best shot to defeat Smart Gilas Pilipinas in an exciting and competitive fashion.

But as they say, this team was being criticized all year long and what is more painful is that fellow Filipinos never have faith and doesn’t believe that it would make an impact or even compete with the best team in Asia such as China, Iran and ofcourse South Korea or even Jordan and Lebanon. But the way they are showing right now, Smart Gilas Pilipinas is now proving everyone wrong and they are giving their best shot and showing competitiveness in every international or exhibition games they played. They displayed heart and dedication to make the Philippines proud.

The way it was working with the team system that Coach Rajko Toroman wanted to imply, this team has something to look forward to. Beating the Asia Champion Iran in their opening match and playing hard against Jordan and South Korea makes them one of the teams to beat in Asia with the composition of elite collegiate players and a few selections of players from Philippine Basketball Players. Not to mention the big help from naturalize Marcus Douthit who is highly considered as one reason why play good basketball nowadays.

At the recent Jones Cup 2011, Smart Gilas Pilipinas is expected to be at least in the top four and have a chance to make it to the finals and eventually won a championship if they will be successful. The way they showed from playing against the best team who participated (IRAN, SOKOR and Jordan), they have definitely a very big chance of capturing the elusive Jones Cup Crown.

But there are still needs to learn and to expect, it will not end it here Smart Gilas Pilipinas will continue believing and serve the flag of the Philippines. With the extension of this program, for sure this team Smart Gilas Pilipinas will be develop and will become one of powerhouse teams in Asia.

Go Gilas , Go Pilipinas we are proud of You….

See some videos above for highlights…

The Perfect Fit: Norris Cole

Norris Cole is the type of player that is easy to talk about. When his college coach, Gary Waters, speaks about how much the 6-2 point guard mean to his Cleveland State Team, there is nothing labored about his cadence. Praise for Cole is effusive.

“He’s a great kid,” Waters said. “I’m not talking about average. He’s the best type of kid I’ve ever had in my program.”

The type he’s talking about is complete. Not just offense and defense, in the gym or on his own time, but of both body and mind. He gave everything he could physically because everything was asked of him in 34 and 36 minutes per game his final two seasons as a Viking, yet this is a country full of players capable of physical performance. Not every college player keeps his teammates on campus for two summer sessions before his senior year and guarantees his coach that he’ll have everyone up at 7 a.m. each day.

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NBA Finals: Miami Heat takes 2-1 lead against Dallas Mavericks!

The star studded Miami Heat team now takes a 2-1 lead against the veteran laden Dallas Mavericks leaded by German star Dirk Nowitzki in their best of seven National Basketball Association Final Series.

This developed after the Heat beat the Mavericks 88-86 in Game 3 of their series in Dallas, Texas through the strong efforts of the big-three of the visiting team the Miami Heat headed by Lebron James.

Heat superstar guard Dwayne ‘Flash’ Wade took charge in scoring for his team with 29 points and 11 rebounds.

Fellow NBA superstars Lebron ‘King’ James and Chris Bosh also added 17 and 18 points respectively to tow their team to victory against the determined home team Dallas Mavericks team.

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Miami Heat to NBA Finals: Beat Chicago Bulls in Game 5 83-80!

Lebron, Heat silence critics with bevy of clutch moments

Chicago – It was not what he did. It was how he did it.

Ten months ago, that was the popular refrain, and it was used as a sledgehammer against Lebron James when he left the Cavaliers very sloppily to join a pair of All-Stars in Miami.

And now, we can reprise that with the same intensity, but in a completely different circumstance, given how he and the Heat just crashed the NBA Finals.

Not what he did. How he did it.

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