Gilas nadulas silat sa Palestine

Laro Ngayon

9:30 a.m. – Philippines vs Hong Kong

CHANGSHA – Sa isa sa pinakama-laking upset sa Asian basketball, natalo ang Gilas Pilipinas sa kanilang opening game sa 2015 FIBA Asia Championship laban sa Palestine na nagsisimula pa lang matutunan ang larong basketball.

Abot kamay na ng Team Pilipinas ang panalo ngunit lumambot ang kanilang laro at nalasap ang 73-75 masaklap na pagkatalo laban sa seven-man Palestine side sa Changsha Social Work College Gymnasium.

Nagpakawala si Jamal Abu Shamala, pumasok sa Palestine team dalawang araw pa lamang ang nakakaraan ng dalawang pamatay na three-pointers sa last two minutes para sa kanilang impresibong come-from-behind panalo sa kanilang FIBA Asia debut.

“Palestinian players are very young in basketball. They don’t get to play basketball very much. Opportunities to learn are very limited. They’re learning from the very low level. Good thing they have brave hearts, they work hard and they really want to learn. This one turns out well,” sabi ni Palestine coach Jerry Steele, isang lawyer/basketball coach mula sa Phoenix.

Tumapos si Shamala ng game-high na 26 points at 15 rebounds katulong si center Sani Sakakini, point guard Imad Qahwash at Salim Sakakini na umiskor ng hindi bababa sa 10-puntos para sa Palestine.

“Maybe (they took us for granted). I don’t know now, but who got the win in the end. It’s us so that’s good for them,” sabi ni Sani Sakakini na sobra ang ngiti.

Isa itong malaking upset dahil hindi naman sport ng Palestine ang basketball at wala talaga silang sport dahil sa tensiyon sa kanilang lugar.

Palestine 75 – Abu 26, Sakakini San. 22, Qahwash 17, Sakakini Sal. 10, Haroon 0, Younis 0, Yousef 0.

Philippines 73 – Blatche 21, Romeo 11, Castro 10, De Ocampo 6, Intal 6, Abueva 5, Thoss 4, Norwood 3, Hontiveros 3, Pingris 2, Ganuelas 2, Taulava 0.

Quarterscores: 12-27, 40-45, 55-59, 75-73.