By Francis Ochoa
Inquirer
TOKUSHIMA, JAPAN–As it were, all the Philippines really had at most to cross the wide expanse between here and Beijing was a bridge made of straw.
And on Monday, even that was burned down, torched by a Jordan team that played its best basketball at the right time — depending on which side of the coliseum you were watching — on the way to an 84-76 victory over San Miguel-RP in the FIBA-Asia men’s championship at the Asty Tokushima.
Jordan shredded the Philippines’ Olympic hopes in twos, with resident stars Rasheim Wright and Zaid Alkhas doing the tango in the third period and Islam Abbaas and Sam Daghles completing the demolition job in the fourth to book for their team a quarterfinal slot in this Olympic-qualifying event.
“I think we played the best basketball in this championships,” said Jordan coach Mario Palma, who continued to harp on the fact that his team had to play through the so-called Group of Death and now has to open its quarterfinal bid right the very next day against South Korea.
For San Miguel-RP, a team culled from the biggest names in the Philippine Basketball Association, the end to the dream of a cameo appearance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics came down hard on it, more so because of the fact that it produced its best start thus far in the tournament.
“We lost [in the second half],” said coach Chot Reyes. “We couldn’t make a basket and they (the Jordanians) made theirs.”
And the Jordanians made theirs in pairs.
Alkhas and Wright had eight points each in the third period as the two scored all but two of their team’s total output there to allow Jordan to grab a 54-51 lead going into the fourth.
Abbaas, who wasn’t even supposed to play because of an ankle injury — and who at one point needed to be replaced to have the injury checked — then scored six straight points in the fourth and combined with Daghes in a 15-4 exchange that ripped the game wide open, 69-55, with 3:16 to play.
“The last four months, people have been talking about the Philippines and how they prepared hard for four months,” Palma, a Brazilian, said. “But when they arrived here, I don’t think they were in shape. In the second half, they looked tired.”
Surprisingly, San Miguel-RP didn’t go with the zone early in the second half when Wright started wresting control of the match.
Wright had shown an aversion to the zone in a loss against Iran, a game that forced Tuesday’s knockout match for the final quarterfinal berth for Group A.
Asked why he didn’t go with the zone as the Iranians did, Reyes took a few seconds to ponder.
“I wanted [the players] to be more aggressive and falling back on the zone did not allow that,” he said.
“We tried it in the fourth but then [when Jordan missed shots], we couldn’t get the rebounds.”
The Philippines dropped to the lower half of the quarterfinal bracket, where — at most — it will battle for ninth place.
“We worked long and hard only to be derailed by two bad breaks,” said Reyes, who still rued “the technical foul that the Greek referee slapped on us” in a heart-breaking loss to Iran that virtually doomed the country’s chances.
The other bad break, Reyes said, was the “misfortune of the draw.”
At least, on that one he had an ally.
The volcanic Palma again failed to check his temper in the post-game press conference and blasted the FIBA for allowing the formation of the Group of Death and then making his team play the day after surviving the toughest draw.
The Philippines started out hot, racing to a 24-15 lead early in the first half. But it was also at that point that the team lost its grip of the game, forcing four defensive stops but failing to convert in any of the ensuing possessions that could have broken the Jordanians early.
“That’s where we lost the ballgame,” said Reyes.
“I take full responsibility for that. The boys played hard and I’m proud of the way they played.”
The Philippines opens its campaign in the lower half of the quarterfinal bracket at 9 a.m. (local time) against Syria.
The scores:
JORDAN 84 — Wright 24, Daghles 22, Alkhas 16, Abbaas 9, Soobzokov 6, Al-Sous 3, Idais 2, Z. Abbaas 2, Anajjar 0, Bashir 0.
SAN MIGUEL-RP 76 — Taulava 14, Alapag 10, Caguioa 9, Williams 9, Hontiveros 9, Helterbrand 7, Raymundo 6, Williams 5, Ritualo 3, Menk 2, Seigle 2, Pennisi 0.
Quarters: 13-18, 33-35, 54-51, 84-76
Notes: Danny Seigle was a non-factor again for the second straight game, obviously bothered by an injury that started out as cramps against Iran. Team officials noticed a bruise on his ankle and didn’t use him against China. He played only four minutes against Jordan and scored just two points… The loss disappointed a lot of Filipino fans who came all the way here to watch the games. A lot of the Filipinos had no tickets and relied on the generosity of the likes of SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, SBP trustee Michel Lhuillier, businessman Arben Santos and many more, who purchased tickets so they could watch.
August 9th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
when will pinoys ever realize that basketball is not their game?
August 8th, 2007 at 6:56 am
“A golden opportunity to plant a Philippine flag at the Olympic Games after 35 years might have been lost forever,” so says a sportswriter on the Pba.ph website. The writer continues, “With China sending toddlers to a man’s job in the 24th FIBA Asia Championship, the Olympic qualifying tournament… a small window opened for San Miguel-Pilipinas to sneak in. Now that window might have closed for an eternity to come.”
I heartily agree with this writer that only a couple of possibilities remain for the Philippines in trying accomplish its goal of ever playing in Olympic basketball again. And unless and until these things are done (or happen), the country’s national team will never play in the Olympics again.
Firstly, FIBA decides to allot more than one Asian slot. This will only happen if China and Iran make a truly good showing in the 2008 Olympiad. It would be a waste to deprive other more deserving European and South American teams of a slot in the Olympics if the Asian teams lose regularly to the rest of the world by 30-40 points. If the Asian teams in 2008 could win at least half of their games, and not lose other games by more than 20 points, then a couple of slots for Asia might open. This is not a remote possibility at all, since China will have homecourt advantage in Beijing, and might (a big might) even medal in the tournament. Asia is slowly but surely closing this gap, and two slots for Asia might come as early as 2012. But the question then is this: Can the Philippines even be second-fiddle to China? As we just saw in Tokushima, where only South Korea represented the Far East in the semifinals, West Asian teams are starting to dominate the Asian basketball scene.
Secondly, a foreign coach, or a naturalized player, or both, are recruited by the basketball authorities. This is the only way to beat China or the powerhouse Middle Eastern teams like Iran, Lebanon and Jordan. Filipino coaches might be good, but they are not at all world-class. None of them has won anything of international value since 1973. How many Filipino coaches have won the FIBA-Asia since 1973? None. Zip. The last time the Philippines won, in 1985, was under an American coach, Ron Jacobs, and with two naturalized American imports. And is it a coincidence that three of the top five finishers in the Tokushima tournament have foreign coaches?
True, there are several homegrown 6-9s to 7-footers, but is there anyone of the caliber of Yao Ming or Lebanon’s El Khatib or Iran’s Ehadadi? It’s only a remote possibility that a pure Malay would be over 6-9 and still be as athletic and quick as the big Chinese or Middle Easterner. Is it another coincidence that two (maybe three, if South Korea’s Daniel Sandrin is counted) of the top five finishers in Tokushima have naturalized players? A Fil-foreigner or a naturalized center is the only solution. It all boils down to genetics.
It’s encouraging to see that Philippine basketball authorities, including Coach Reyes, are waking up to this reality: a foreign coach or a naturalized player, or both, are the only tickets to Olympic basketball.
Noli Davao
Antipolo City, Philippines
August 6th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
[...] Sports Aficionado : RP cagers bow to Jordan, bid Olympic dream adieu [...]
August 6th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
what’s new another disspointment for the RP men’s basketball team.
I saw the Iraqi men’s soccer team that inspite of a war torn nation thet still won the Asian cup. Our millionaire men’ basketball team will now fight for 9th place? Shame on you!
August 4th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
i think it’s already time that we should realized that it’s a “punch on the moon” to bring back basketball glory to our country at international level. Period…
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:43 pm
walang problema yun hindi tayo na qualify. ako na nakakainitindi ng basketball alam ko hindi ganun kadali ang paghahanda at pagsasanay para maging isang competitive team. kailangan talaga ng malaking suporta hindi lang financial pati na sakripisyo na kailangan umabot sa punto na talagang totally i pull out ang mga players pero ang problema alam natin na mag susuffer ang liga dahil sa mga sikat itong mawawala. alam ko na alam nyo din na kailangan talaga ng mahabang oras at malaking pera para sa paghahanda pero nagbakasakali lang tayo dahil sayang ang opportunity din. para sa akin maganda ang pinakita ng atin mga players pati na coaching team. Coach chot reyes mabuhay ka, mga players mabuhay kayong lahat. wag kayong mag alala sa naging resulta dahil para sa amin nakita namin ang mga pinagpaguran ninyo at hindi matatawaran ang mga ginawa ninyo para lang ma qualify sa olympics. mabuhay PILIPINAS….
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:44 pm
keep on trying and need a lot of practice
August 3rd, 2007 at 4:36 pm
[...] Sports Aficionado : RP cagers bow to Jordan, bid Olympic dream adieu [...]
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:27 pm
I am really proud about our SM-RP Team, i believed they exerted enough effort to win every ballgame. I hope SBP president MVP will continue supporting and funding future tournaments abroad.
Salute and better luck next time !!!
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Just goes to show how far the rest of the world has improved in basketball. Before, we used to be among the best in Asia, proving more than a match for even China.
I remember watching a game wherein my college team (led by Zandro Limpot) used to whip the Qatar NATIONAL TEAM during their tour here. Now, the last time I watched Qatar play, they have improved tremendously and can give the Philippine National Team a run for their money.
I think we need to have our players be exposed to a lot of international play. Maybe we even have to rethink the way the PBA is set-up and probably open the league to more international players (maybe make it into a regional league). It is when our players are exposed to the games best players can they be better themselves.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Height is might in Basketball. Filipinos cannot excel in basketball even in Asia even if all the preparations were made.
The money should be instead spent to other sports where Filipinos has good chances to succeed. Sayang lang ang milyun-milyun na gastos sa kanila.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:44 am
The Philippines is always thinking that big, considering only the locals… That’s why the philippines never get so far…
July 31st, 2007 at 11:38 pm
the journey doesn’t stop there. keep on trying team philippines.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:17 pm
[...] Sports Aficionado: RP cagers bow to Jordan, bid Olympic dream adieu [...]