Despite having a loaded roster, Gilas Pilipinas Men could not escape in Zouk Mikael with a win, falling to Wael Arakji and Lebanon, 85-81, Friday morning (Manila time) at Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex.
With the game tied at 78-all with 58 seconds left, Arakji was able to power his way past Scottie Thompson and fish for a foul. The Asia Cup MVP calmly sank two free throws to gain the lead.
After a miss from deep by Japeth Aguilar in the next possession, Ali Haidar was able to miss a shot thanks to a good Gilas stop. However, the ball was able to find its way to a wide-open Arakji, who drained the dagger trey.
Arakji wound up with 24 points on 6-of-17 shooting from the field.
Jordan Clarkson waxed hot in the first half, dropping 18 of his 27 points in the first half. The Utah guard though shot just 2-of-10 in the second half, including a ‘gimme’ miss with 1:19 left that would have broken the 78-all deadlock.
Clarkson also got seven assists and six rebounds in 37 minutes of play.
With Clarkson going cold, it was Dwight Ramos who took the cudgels for the visitors, helping Gilas gain a 75-71 lead halfway through the final frame.
Lebanon, who only had 11 men in the lineup, suffered another loss when Amir Saoud suffered an apparent right knee injury after a crash with Ramos. Saoud had 17 points in the game.
But that did not stop the Cedars from turning it up.
Karim Zeinoun and Ali Haidar chopped into the lead as Gilas committed numerous turnovers.
An Elie Chamoun trey gave Lebanon a 78-75 lead but Japeth Aguilar was able to take it back with three clutch free throws.
Then Arakji happened.
Lebanon rose to 4-1 in Group E while Gilas dropped to 2-3.
“We knew it was gonna be a tough game, it was gonna be difficult because we’re playing the number two team in Asia from the FIBA Asia Cup playing at home,” said Chot Reyes.
“Twenty-one turnovers really was the big difference in this ballgame and that was the result of us not yet as familiar with each other as we’d like to be.”
Haidar also got 10 points and nine rebounds for the Cedars.
Besides Clarkson, Reyes and Tim Cone also played three other players 30-plus minutes in the contest. Ramos played 33 minutes and produced 18 points and 10 rebounds; Aguilar logged 30 minutes and got 11 points and six rebounds; while Kai Sotto registered 31 minutes for 10 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
Despite being a team-high minus-nine, Gilas played PBA Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson for 19 minutes.
B.League imports Kiefer Ravena, Thirdy Ravena, and Bobby Ray Parks only played a total of 17 minutes. Gilas mainstay Carl Tamayo, meanwhile, only played 11 minutes.
Chris Newsome (three points and two rebounds in 10 minutes) and Jamie Malonzo (three points and one rebounds in five minutes) made their Gilas debuts in the contest.
Gilas will head home before hosting Saudi Arabia at SM Mall of Asia Arena on Monday.
The Scores:
Philippines 81 – Clarkson 27, Ramos 18, Aguilar 11, Sotto 10, Thompson 4, Newsome 3, K. Ravena 3, Malonzo 3, T. Ravena 2, Tamayo 0, Parks 0, Oftana 0.
Lebanon 85 – Arakji 24, Saoud 17, Haidar 10, Gyokchan 9, Zeinoun 7, Arledge 6, Chamoun 3, Mansour 3, Ezzedine 3, Mezher 3.
Quarterscores: 25-22, 47-49, 63-68, 81-85.
