Hardwork pays off for Gilas in comeback win

TAIPEI – Gilas Pilipinas struggled with a horrible shooting through the first 25 minutes before hitting the mark, upending the Wellington Saints, 92-88, in overtime Friday to stay right behind the leaders going into the penultimate day of the 2015 Jones Cup at the Xinchuang Gymnasium here. 

Jayson Castro, Dondon Hontiveros and Asi Taulava put together king-size effort as the Nationals overcame two 16-point deficits in the third quarter and sprang back from their 65-74 loss to Iran the previous day.

Gilas Pilipinas, the 2012 Jones Cup titlist, improved to 4-2 (win-loss) while the New Zealand squad dropped to 2-4. The two teams meet again in the MVP Cup in Manila slated Sept. 11-13.

Castro fired 14 of his 22 points in the last 12 minutes of regulation play then Hontiveros took over in the extra period, rifling in three straight treys and two crucial charities in the closing seconds that sealed Gilas’ amazing come-from-behind win.

Taulava, who was supposed to sit out the game, was a big game-changer as he provided much energy and intensity while checking into the game midway through the fourth and Gilas trailing 39-55.

The Fil-Tongan behemoth helped close out the game, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

“It’s no magic, it’s real hard work,” said Gilas coach Tab Baldwin.

“It seemed we played badly in the first half, but the reality was that we just shot badly. The irony of the predicament we’re in, it reversed in the end. We hardly missed a shot in the end,” Baldwin also said.

Throwing bricks early on, Castro and Hontiveros found the mark in the clutch, leading the Nationals to their fourth win following earlier victories over Chinese Taipei, Japan and Spartak-Primorye of Russia.

“It feels great to have a coach who believes in you. I’ve been off the whole week. There are games that I don’t want to take a shot anymore. But coach was saying as long as you have a shot, take it,” said

Hontiveros, stunning everybody in the venue with three consecutive treys to start the overtime play.

By the time he missed another attempt from the arc, the whole Gilas team was fired-up, with Gabe Norwood soaring high to get the rebound then setting up Taulava for a basket underneath that made it 90-86 with time down to 18 seconds.

Taulava was a huge factor as he came in and provided a boost when everybody seemed ready to give up.

“He’s a 42-year-old guy who made a good example for any player. I was trying to give him rest. But when I asked him to perform, he’s ready not just to give effort but play intelligently. He’s really a great example,” said Baldwin.

“I don’t want to play him as he played a pretty tough game against Iran and we’re to play another tough game against the US team. But Mo (Tautuaa) got into foul trouble,” Baldwin also said.

Taking a rest were Terrence Romeo, JC Intal, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag.

Calvin Abueva and Marc Pingris also played big at the finish helping Baldwin gain the bragging rights versus the Kiwi coach Kevin Braswell. The latter was a big star when Baldwin was coaching in the New Zealand league.

“We played well for 38 minutes. In the other minutes, we made so many mistakes. In overtime, we didn’t play and we didn’t make smart decision in three minutes,” rued Braswell.

“It would have been fun had he beaten me. I would’ve not heard the last of it. We’re friends,” said Baldwin.

Castro scored on a daring drive to tie the count at 78 then Ray Turner missed a shot from the left flank as the game went into overtime.

The Kiwis dominated three-fourths of the way with Bryan Davis and Turner scoring heavily inside the paint while Brook Ruscoe and Eric Devendorf delivered from the outside.