Smart Gilas Pilipinas bows to Japan NT

HSINCHUANG CITY — The Smart-Gilas national team’s slim title hopes evaporated into thin air on Monday when it absorbed a shocking 84-74 defeat to Japan in the 32nd William R. Jones Cup at the Hsinchuang Gymnasium in Taipei County here.

Though coming off an impressive 96-93 overtime win over host Taiwan, the Nationals bungled so many opportunities to the dismay of their Filipino supporters.

They rallied from a 53-65 deficit to move within 70-74 through the efforts of Mark Baracael and Marcia Lassiter, who nailed back-to-back treys with 1:42 left in the game.

While many thought it was the spark they needed, the shooting touch and the sharpness of the Nationals suddenly disappeared.

Their bid slowly faded away when Baracael’s pass intended for Lassiter went out of bounds which Japan translated into a huge basket – thanks to Amino Tomooo.

Another turnover by American import Marcus Douthit led to Sakurai Ryota’s two free throws off a foul by Lassiter for a 78-70 lead, 49.08 seconds left which dashed away their remaining hopes.

While the Nationals disintegrated, the Japanese were a picture of calm as they made all their eight tries from the free throw area in the last two minutes.

The Nationals slipped to 3-2, the same win-loss record of the Japanese.

The scores:

JAPAN 84 — Amino 13, Hirose 13, Tabuse 10, Aono 10, Yamada 8, Kinoshita 8, Ishizaki 8, Sakurai 6, Nagayama 4, Takeda 4, Kanamura 0, Mitsuhara 0.

RP 74 — Baracael 24, Douthit 20, Lassiter 16, Barroca 6, Casio 4, Ababou 2, Slaughter 2, Tiu 0, Lutz 0.

Quarters: 17-15; 34-32, 52-55, 84-74