Gilas 5 blasts PBA All Stars
Gilas Pilipinas just won’t let its near-disastrous PBA All-Star experience last year to happen again.
The Nationals played the way they should in the 2014 edition of the PBA midseason spectacle, topping the PBA All Stars, 101-93, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night.
Barely salvaging a tie the last time, the Nationals went practically coast to coast to settle their old score.
Gary David scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to personally fend off the AllStars’ mini-uprising. He sat out the last few minutes but was not denied of the PBA All-Star Game MVP award.
“We expected that as we had Marcus (Douthit). It’s a kind of an unfair advantage,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes of their dominant game.
“But more than the final outcome, the final score, we’re looking at how the players react and how the players follow the game plan. We’re happy with the 28 assists. It speaks volume of the kind of team that we have,” Reyes added.
The national mentor was thankful to coach Tim Cone and the All Stars for playing hard.
“They really prepared hard for this game and they played well. They played with different combinations and different looks. I think the game would definitely help us. It may just be one game but it means a lot to us,” Reyes pointed out.
It’s a good warm- up game for the Nationals who won’t play together again until their coming stint in the FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China in July.
“Wala nang ibang game. Eto lang talaga,” said Reyes.
Jeff Chan, Jayson Castro, Junmar Fajardo and Douthit were the others who put in big numbers for the Nationals in their first game since their successful 2013 FIBA Asia Championship run.
Chan fired three treys and top scored with 17 points, Fajardo contributed 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, Castro chipped in 12 markers while Douthit added 10 markers, seven boards and four assists.
The All Stars did try to push the Nationals hard, but just didn’t have enough arsenal stay close with Gilas.
“They were too organized and we only one point guard (Mark Barroca). We had to have a great game from mark,” said Cone. “But our guys fought tremendously. and I’m proud of them.”
Arwind Santos drilled in a trey and a breakaway layup, then PJ Simon also had his own breakaway basket as the All Stars threatened to wage one final rally, 84-95, midway through the fourth.
But David buried a second trey in the fourth quarter then Douthit nailed two charities to put Gilas back in full control. The scores: Smart Gilas ( 101)Chan 17, David 15, Fajardo 13, Castro 12, De Ocampo 7, Norwood 7, Aguilar 7, Lee 5, Dillinger 4, Fonaicer 3, Pingris 1, Alapag 0, Tenorio 0, Belga 0
PBA All Stars (93) - Lassiter 12, Slaughter 11, Simon 9, Thoss 8, Barroca 8, Yap 8, Ellis 7, Devance 6, Baracael 6, Abueva 6, Canaleta 3