Tuesday, December 23, 2008 RP beats China in Guangxi
THE SMART-Pilipinas National Team scored its first-ever championship on its long road to bring glory to the Philippines, capturing the 1st China-Asean CBO Men’s Invitational Tournament against the bigger and more experienced Chinese team before a packed brand new Pinggou Arena here in Guangxi, China.
Fil-Am Joey Deas, a 5-foot-10 point guard out of Rockhust University in Kansas and traces his roots back here in Cebu and FEU Tamaraw guard Mark Barocca, a native of Zamboanga City lead the Philippine squad to beating the Chinese squad represented by Lin Ning Team, which had five players who are named among the Chinese Basketball Association All-Stars, via thrilling 76-72 victory.
Tenacious
The Chinese, whose averaged height is 6-foot-6, completely out-rebounded the Philippine squad 44-33, but the Pinoy squad leaned on tenacious defense to limit the voracious shooting opponents to just 2-of-15 from the three-point land and forcing the Chinese to commit 14 turnovers.
The youthful but promising Smart-Pilipinas squad who is under the tutelage of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman is slated to represent the country to the 2009 Sea Games in Laos, 2010 Asian Games in China and the 2011 Fiba-Asia Men’s Olympic Qualifying tournament for the 2012 London Olympics.
Playing before a partisan home crowd and with its top local officials in attendance, China stormed to an early 6-0 lead but the RP squad answered with six straight points from Deas to tie the game early.
The Philippines went to control the game after a slim 18-14 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
After posting a 41-27 lead at the half, the Filipinos raised to their largest lead at 50-35 using a smooth running game and full court pressure defense before 6-10 center Gao Wei lead the comeback of the home team.
From a 15-point deficit, Gao and the 6-foot-4 guard Nong Jie finally tied the game at 70-all in the final 63 seconds of the game.
Chance
The Chinese had their chance to lead the team in the final 32 seconds of the game, but Ogie Menor pulled the final defensive gem, stealing the leather from the hands of Hu Bin that resulted to fastbreak points for Barocca that gave Smart-Pilipinas a 74-71 lead.
Gao scored on a split free-throw and Barocca was fouled for the final count.
Deas led the Smart-Pilipinas with 19, Barocca had 18 points and Dylan Ababou scored 15 points. Slaughter finished with 9 points, 4 blocks and 4 rebounds. China was led by Gao with 32 points, 11 boards and 4 assists.
SMART-PILIPINAS (76)-Deas 19, Barocca 18, Ababou 15, Slaughter 9, Menor 6, Baracael 4, Cawaling 3, Theophile 2. CHINA (72) - Gao 32, Hu 15, Nong 9, Cui 6, Wei
6,Wang 4. Quarters: 18-14; 41-27; 58-47; 76-72. (RCM)
