Gilas loses steam in 4th quarter as Lebanon posts 21-point win

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Gilas Pilipinas fires blanks in the fourth quarter against Lebanon as it absorbs its first loss in the Doha International Cup

MANILA, Philippines – A sluggish start in the fourth quarter doomed Gilas Pilipinas as it absorbed a 75-54 beating from Lebanon in the Doha International Cup in Qatar on Saturday, February 15 (Sunday, February 16, Manila time).

In a complete opposite of its 74-71 win over Qatar that saw it erase a double-digit deficit after coming alive in the final frame, the Philippines ran out of gas in the loss that put to waste a double-double effort by Justin Brownlee.

Brownlee finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, but he and the Filipinos fired blanks in the last period where they were outscored, 24-6, by the Lebanese.

The Philippines inched within 50-51 after an AJ Edu bucket to start the fourth quarter before Lebanon pulled away for good on the back of a blazing 14-0 run capped by a Jad Khalil three-pointer.

Even in garbage time, the Filipinos struggled to find the bottom of the net and scored just a single point in the final four minutes.

Khalil torched Gilas with 18 points, while Gerard Hadidian tossed in 18 points and 8 rebounds to show the way for Lebanon, which bounced back from its tournament-opening 82-70 loss to Egypt.

Ater Majok added 12 points and 9 rebounds in the win.

While Brownlee more than doubled his 10-point output in the victory over Qatar, the other heroes of that game were contained.

Dwight Ramos had only 5 points on 2-of-7 shooting, while June Mar Fajardo recorded just 2 points on a 0-of-5 clip just a day after the duo led the Philippines in scoring against Qatar with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Calvin Oftana ended up as the only other Filipino player in double-figure scoring with 10 points as Gilas shot 30% (21-of-69) from the field, including a cold 15% (4-of-26) from beyond the arc.

Scottie Thompson posted 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists in the losing effort.

Toting a 1-1 record, the Philippines hopes to end its run on a positive note before it goes to war in the third and final window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers as it tangles with Egypt at 1:30 am on Monday, February 17 (Manila time).

The Scores

Lebanon 75 – Khalil 18, Hadidian 18, Zeinoun 13, Majok 12, Mezher 8, Rtail 4, Makhlouf 2, Khoueiry 0, Samaha 0, Moussa 0.

Philippines 54 – Brownlee 21, Oftana 10, Thompson 7, Edu 6, Ramos 5, Fajardo 2, Newsome 1, Quiambao 1, Perez 1, Tamayo 0, Amos 0, Malonzo 0.

Quarters: 13-12, 26-28, 51-48, 75-54.

– Rappler.com