Jubilation spread through the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Monday night, when Gilas Pilipinas built an eight-point lead with less than nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, thanks to a Beau Belga triple from the right wing.
The Filipino dribblers were just eight minutes and 25 seconds away from bagging the win. They were also just eight minutes and 25 seconds away from giving the home crowd a reason to smile.
Last Saturday, the Filipinos left the venue with shattered hearts, as Gilas absorbed an 88-92 loss to Kazakhstan.
It was the kind of lead expected of Gilas, since they were favored over the team from the Middle East. The Iranians were without their top stars Samad Nikkhah Bahrami and seven-foot slotman Hamed Haddadi.
But a series of unfortunate events took place after that.
The Iranians stormed back from the deficit; the duo of Behnam Yakhchali and Mohammed Jamshidi joined hands to power their side to a 78-70 victory and to help Iran to hike its card to 7-3 in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
According to Gilas head coach Yeng Guiao, it was their lack of maturity that hurt his wards.
“For a while there we thought we had a really good chance of winning the game. For the most part of the game, we were holding on to a small lead and we were on the verge of breaking out. It just did not happen and towards the end game.
“I felt it’s a lack of maturity for our team,” said Guiao.
That kind of immaturity was exemplified by Marcio Lassiter. With less than a minute left to play, he gave away a foul – his fifth – while attempting to steal the ball from Yakhchali, sending the latter to the line. Yakhchali made both to give Iran a 71-70 lead.
Iran never gave up their lead.
“I saw that they were giving their best. But the crucial point in the game, we made some bad decisions and some crucial breaks. I think Marcio fouled one player on the sideline while he was trying to steal the ball,” Guiao said.
The seasoned bench strategist also lamented the wide free throw disparity – Iran had 33 freebies, while Gilas only had 18. And for Guiao, he believes the team is not used to the way the whistle is blown on the FIBA stage.
“We gave up too many free throws again. That’s the problem, I guess – we’re not really accustomed to the officiating. We don’t know how certain calls are made in the international game. But that’s something we should be responsible for.”
The Philippines is now at 5-5 and has dropped to the fourth place after the loss. But he country’s World Cup chances are still alive, and the NLEX Road Warriors head coach in the PBA is clinging on to that hope.
“Ang ano pa rin dito, is I still feel, this is a good team. I still feel this is a strong team. I still feel if the chances are slimmer going to the World Cup – but I still feel we can do it. Alam kong kaya pa rin natin.”
