The Philippine national men’s basketball team suffered a 106-87 drubbing at the hands of host Lebanon to slide to the battle for seventh place in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup Saturday at Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Beirut.
Terrence Romeo scored 19 points to lead Gilas Pilipinas as Jayson Castro added 13 markers and seven dimes. June Mar Fajardo also played his best game of the tournament, scoring 13 points.
But their numbers weren’t enough to overcome Lebanese legend Fadi El Khatib, who tallied 36 points, six rebounds and eight assits, and naturalized center Norvel Pelle, who registered 23 points, 13 rebounds and nine blocks.
For its final assignment, Gilas Pilipinas will battle Jordan on Sunday with the aim of ending its campaign on a winning note.
Gilas Pilipinas gave up the game’s first seven points and couldn’t find a way to stop El Khatib who scored 14 points in the opening quarter.
The Filipinos’ lethargic transition defense also allowed Lebanon to score a whopping 16 fastbreak points. The hosts led 29-18 after the first frame and expanded it to 19, 37-18, after an 8-0 run in the second period.
Gilas Pilipinas found some spark after scoring eight unanswered points that helped the Filipinos close the gap to five, 47-42.
But the Lebanese asserted their might in the second half, with Pelle dominating the paint with his blocking and finishing ablities. They pushed their lead, 68-53, despite Fajardo making his presence felt.
Lebanon went on to grab full control in the fourth quarter, leading by as many as 23 points. Gilas Pilipinas’ woes were compounded when coach Chot Reyes was ejected with 5:24 left in the game after confronting a referee who didn’t call a foul when Fajardo was clipped by a defender.
