Gilas Pilipinas turns back young, fighting Japanese

Games Today (Taipei Peace Basketball Gymnasium) 11 a.m. – Lithuania vs India 1 p.m. – Chinese Taipei-White vs Japan 3 p.m. – Iran vs Canada 5 p.m. – Philippines vs South Korea 7:00 p.m. – Chinese Taipei-Blue vs Iraq

TAIPEI – On the eve of the Gilas Pilipinas game against Japan, coach Chot Reyes reminded his players that nothing would come easy and opponents should not be taken lightly in an elite tournament like the William Jones Cup – even against a winless Japan side.

Reyes proved prophetic as the defending champions grinded it out against a hard-fighting Japan side to score a 100-85 victory yesterday at the Taipei Peace Basketball Gymnasium here.

Filipino-German recruit Christian Standhardinger had his best game yet as he produced 22 points and 15 rebounds – his second double-double – in nearly 28 minutes of action.

Gilas import Mike Myers also had a solid outing with 17 points and 17 rebounds, sharpshooter Matthew Wright added 15 points, while Kiefer Ravena and Pio Jalalon contributed 11 points apiece.

The 6-foot-8 Standhardinger and Wright starred in the team’s 12-0 run capped by Ravena’s basket, which turned a one-point deficit, 73-72, to an 84-73 lead with 3:11 left in the game.

“Like I told the team last night, in an elite tournament like this, there is no easy game. There is no such thing as easy game. We felt that we’re going in for a tough match with Japan,” said Reyes.

“In the end we’re just fortunate (to win the game),” added Reyes as Gilas defeated an equally young Under-24 team from Japan.

The victory extended the national team’s win streak to three, or since losing its opening game against Canada.

Likewise, it prepared the Nationals for their highly anticipated encounter with South Korea today at 5 p.m.

“My concern is the next game against South Korea,” said Reyes, who gave reserves Von Pessumal, Kobe Paras and Alfonso Gotladera a chance to play so as to provide his regular players – Wright, Standhardinger, Ravena, Roger Pogoy and Myers – longer rest.

“We don’t know how we can compete against Korea, but we’ll try our best,” Reyes said.

The 28-year-old Standhardinger, whose mother is from Angono, Rizal, said the game against Japan taught them a lesson, which they hope to use when they face the Koreans.

“We started out flat against a really energized Japan team. Any game, we have to respect the game, respect our opponent,” said Standhardinger, who played ball when Nebraska and Hawaii.

Tomorrow, the Nationals play Iraq, then Lithuania on Friday, India on Saturday, and Iran on Sunday – the final day of competition.

Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei-White, the home team’s B squad, finally found a way to win as it downed Iraq, 87-79, in the first game. The win gave them a 1-3 record, the same record as the Iraqis.

Canada and South Korea, unbeaten in three games, are playing at press time with the Canadians battling Chinese Taipei-Blue (Team A) while South Korea was facing the Lithuanians.

PHILIPPINES 100 – Standhardinger 22, Myers 17, Wright 15, Ravena 11, Jalalon 11, Cruz 7, Pessumal 6, Pogoy 5, Paras 4, Tolomia 2, Belo 0, Gotladera 0.

Sugiura 22, Vendrame 12, Hiraiwa 12, Hara 12, Ando 11, Nomoto 9, Tawatari 5, Ikuhara 2, Sato 0, Taichi 0.

Quarters: 19-16, 41-42, 66-66, 100-85.