FIBA World Qualifiers 2018:

Depleted Iran flattens Guiao-led Gilas, 78-70

December 3, 2018 – Mall of Asia Arena
Australia Boomers stops Gilas Pilipinas, 84-68
photo courtesy of FIBA

FIBA World Qualifiers News 2018: A depleted Iran NT flattened the Gilas Pilipinas squad coached by Yeng Guiao, 78-70 in the fifth window of the 2018 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers this Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Gilas lost to a weakened Iranian five without its’ main stars Hamed Haddadi and Samad Nikkhah Bahrami.

Notes:

➤ Iran’s Mohammad Jamshidi pummeled Gilas with 26 big buckets, with 20 coming off the 4th quarter combined with 7 assists while guard Behnam Yakhchali poured 21 points and 7 boards.

➤ The Filipinos squandered the sure chance to qualify for the World Cup as it fell to fourth place with a 5-5 slate, just below Japan. They need to win their two remaining games and hope that the Hayabusa Five loses at least a game to even out the rankings. Only the top-three teams will qualify for the FIBA Worlds and the Philippines may now need a miracle to advance.

➤ Home-court advantage did not work wonders for RP Five this time around, as Guiao’s system is yet to be proven effective in international tournaments. To sum it all up: Gilas was relegated to fifth place in the recent Asian Games with Jordan Clarkson in tow, lost to a mediocre Kazakhstan team without a legitimate star, and fell twice to an Iranian team that never fielded the behemoth Hamed Haddadi.

➤ If there was any consolation for Guiao, it was the extremely short preparation time of Gilas. This resulted to a disjointed team pitted against Asia’s powerhouse squads with less than a decade of team chemistry. However, Yeng could have opted to field-in the battle-tested Gilas five, but chose to play with an untested roster of mostly aging cagers instead.

➤ Compounding the Gilas hullabaloo was the preposterous exclusion of vital cog Andray Blatche. The former New Jersey Nets center would have terrorized Iran and Kazakhstan in the paint and be unstoppable from the perimeter. Blatche’s defense also would have been a lethal weapon for Gilas, but his unceremonial ejection from the roster proved fatal for the Filipinos.

➤ Meanwhile, Jayson Castro, who just back from FIBA suspension, powered Gilas with 19 markers and 5 caroms while Christian Standhardinger finished with 17 points and 8 boards.

➤ The Philippine basketball team will next face Qatar and Kazakhstan in the sixth window both in away games to continue Gilas’ journey in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 19-20, 35-39, 50-54, 78-70.

iran nt: 78

Jamshidijafarabadi 26, Yakhchalidehkordi 21, Mirzaeitalarposhti 11, Arghavan 8, Hassanzadeh 7, Mozafarivanani 3, Hosseizadeh 2, Sedighi 0, Davoudichegani 0, Torabi 0, Rezaeifar 0.

gilas pilipinas: 70

Castro William 19, Standhardinger 17, Lassiter 12, Fajardo 8, Wright 4, Belga 3, Rosario 3, Santos 2, Aguilar 2, Tenorio 0, Norwood 0, Thompson 0.

Posted on December 4, 2018 - Mall of Asia Arena

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

FIBA World Qualifiers 2018:

Disaster as Gilas falls to lowly Kazakhstan NT

November 30, 2018 – Mall of Asia Arena

FIBA World Qualifiers News 2018: It was a disaster for Philippine basketball as Gilas Pilipinas fell to lowly Kazakhstan NT, 92-88 in the continuation of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The unnerving defeat relegated RP Five to 4th place in Group F and in danger of elimination, losing to a mediocre squad with a four-game losing streak.

Notes:

Stanley Pringle led the losing Gilas with 29 points, while center Junemar Fajardo had 14 points and 13 caroms.

➤ The gamble of Coach Yeng Guiao to utilize an untested roster resulted to the shock loss, with the bigs being unable to defend well in the perimeter. It only highlighted the absence of dominant and mobile big man Andray Blatche, whom Guiao conspicuously left out of the roster. Blatche’s mobility would have given Kazakhstan nightmares. Also absent were Jayson Castro and Troy Rosario who are both serving their FIBA suspensions.

Christian Stanhardinger is also set to replace Pringle as the lone naturalized player in the Pinoy lineup.

➤ Kazakhstan’s Alexander Zhigulin was virtually unstoppable from the three-point territory, converting 6 treys to finish with a total of 30 points, while Anton Bykov added 20 buckets and 9 boards.

➤ The Kazakhstan five is virtually the same squad whom the Pinoys handily beat time and again in countless international tourneys. Worst, they are missing the services of their star player Anton Ponomarev who reportedly begged-off to concentrate in professional basketball.

➤ The Philippine Basketball Team is now tied with Japan NT with identical 5-4 win-loss slate. They must win all their remaining games against Iran, Qatar, and Kazakhstan or risk getting booted out of the qualifiers.

➤ The Filipinos will next battle Iran NT for a do-or-die rematch on Monday, December 3.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 17-18, 40-39, 65-62, 92-88

kazakhstan nt: 92

Zhigulin 30, Bykov 20, Yergali 12, Murzagaliyev 11, Kuanov 8, Bazhin 7, Marchuk 4, Gavrilov 0, Lapchenko 0, Chsherbak 0.

gilas pilipinas: 88

Pringle 29, Fajardo 14, Lassiter 13, Tenorio 8, Norwood 7, Thompson 6, Wright 5, Aguilar 4, Erram 2, Slaughter 0, Belga 0, Cabagnot 0.

Posted on December 1, 2018 - Mall of Asia Arena

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

FIBA World Qualifiers 2018

Guiao names Gilas Final 12 versus Kazakhstan

November 28, 2018

FIBA World Qualifiers News 2018: Coach Yeng Guiao finalized the Gilas Pilipinas Final 12 that will battle Kazakhstan in the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Philippines is currently ranked 3rd in the heap with a 5-3 slate, while the Kazakhs are at fifth with a 3-5 record.

Notes:

➤ The Filipinos will not have a legitimate naturalized player as Guiao opted to not include NBA veteran and Gilas mainstay Andray Blatche in the fifth window roster. Blatche is also coming off the suspension sanctioned by FIBA to Gilas players after the infamous RP-Australia brawl.

➤ The magic twelve of Guiao includes PBA behemoths Junemar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Poy Erram and Japeth Aguilar. The guard rotation will have Stanley Pringle, LA Tenorio, Alex Cabagnot and Scottie Thompson. Rounding-up the cast will be forwards Gabe Norwood, Matthew Wright, Marcio Lassiter, and Beau Belga.

➤ Out of the final line-up were Jayson Castro and Troy Rosario, both serving FIBA suspensions, and Ricci Rivero, Kai Sotto, Ian Sangalang, Paul Lee, Arwind Santos, and Christian Stanhardinger.

Guiao also stated that Stanhardinger will be the likely naturalized player for the next game against Iran. Pringle and Stanhardinger are considered naturalized due to a FIBA residency ruling despite both being legitimate Filipinos.

➤ The Pinoys are in a must-win situation against Kazakhstan as they are in a precarious third place spot in the qualifiers. A loss may put them behind Qatar or Japan, who are both trailing behind at 4th place. Only the first three qualifiers from Asia will advance to the World Cup 2019.

Posted on November 29, 2018

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA 2018:

Alaska gains twice-to-beat, trounces NorthPort, 95-85

October 28, 2018 – Araneta Coliseum

PBA News 2018: Alaska Aces gained the twice-to-beat advantage, as it trounced NorthPort Batang Pier, 95-85 this Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in preparation for their 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs campaign. Import Mike Harris once more led the Gatas Republik with his 27 markers, 25 caroms, and 5 dimes, while guard Chris Banchero chipped-in 15 buckets and 5 assists.

Notes:

➤ Power forward Jeron Teng also added 13 points and 4 boards for the Aces, while veteran slotman Vic Manuel made 12 markers and 7 boards.

➤ The Aces shot better from trey territory, as they made 6 of 24 three-point bombs (25%), against NorthPort‘s 1 of 21 (4%). Alaska also moved the ball better with 27 assists total, opposed to Pier’s 14 dimes.

➤ Reinforcement Rashad Woods paced the defeated Batang Pier with his 33 points and 13 rebounds, while ace ball-handler Stanley Pringle dropped 15 buckets.

➤ The Aces are now at 8-3 win-loss slate as they begin their playoff campaign. NorthPort, meanwhile, ended their Governors’ Cup run with a 2-9 record.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 24-15, 41-47, 64-62, 95-85.

alaska: 95

Harris 27, Banchero 15, Teng 13, Manuel 12, Casio 11, Racal 9, Baclao 6, Enciso 2, Galliguez 0, Exciminiano 0, Thoss 0.

northport: 85

Woods 33, Pringle 15, Tautuaa 13, Anthony 10, Grey 4, Elorde 4, Guinto 2, Arana 2, Gabayni 2, Fortuna 0, Espinas 0, Javelona 0.

Posted on October 29, 2018 - Araneta Coliseum, Quezon CIty

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA 2018:

Talk 'N Text cuffs NorthPort, 104-102

September 30, 2018 – Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

PBA News 2018: Talk ‘N Text KaTropa cuffed the win-less NorthPort Batang Pier, 104-102, in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. Leading the TNT charge were Terrence Romeo who scored 25 points and 8 dimes, and import Marcus Blakely who added 23 markers and 11 caroms.

Notes:

NorthPort was on its’ way to a sure victory after leading by as much as 23 points (63-37) in the 2nd quarter, and by 18 (95-77) in the fourth. Batang Pier failed to contain the TNT uprising in the 4th who rode a 19-1 unanswered blast, to tie the game 96-all.

Troy Rosario, Jericho Cruz, and RR Pogoy all contributed 12, 11 and 10 points each respectively for the KaTropa.

➤ TNT is missing the services of Jayson Castro due to injury.

Rashad Woods paced the losing NorthPort with 19 and 00 caroms, while Stanley Pringle, Mo Tautuaa and Jonathan Grey all chipped-in 18 points each respectively.

Talk ‘N Text is now 4-4 in the Governors’ Cup, while NorthPort is languishing at the bottom of the standings with a regrettable 0-6 slate.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 21-32, 43-64, 71-87, 104-102.

Talk 'n text: 104

Romeo 25, Blakely 23, Rosario 12, Cruz 11, Pogoy 10, Trollano 7, Garcia 6, Reyes 5, Williams 3, Carey 2.

northport: 102

Woods 19, Pringle 18, Grey 18, Tautuaa 18, Anthony 15, Javelona 9, Taha 4, Guinto 1, Fortuna 0, Elorde 0, Espinas 0, Arana 0.

Posted on October 1, 2018 - Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Asian Qualifiers 2018:

Gilas survives trey barrage, decks Qatar NT, 92-81

September 17, 2018 – Araneta Coliseum

Asian Qualifiers 2018 News: Gilas Pilipinas survived a first-half scare as it defeated a determined Qatar NT in the FIBA World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers this Monday evening at the Araneta Coliseum. Japeth Aguilar led the Gilas fightback with his 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Alex Cabagnot made-up for his lackluster performance in his game against Iran, and ended-up with 16 markers as well.

Notes:

Stanley Pringle also contributed 13 points for Gilas Pilipinas, while “Big” Beau Belga chipped-in 11 points.

➤ Pilipinas outrebounded Qatar as they hauled 54 caroms to 40, while also maximizing bench scoring at 66 to 8.

➤ Qatar NT led by as much 17 points in the first half, 20-37, as they shot an unbelievable 7 of 13 (54%) three-point shooting barrage. The Filipinos turned the tide in the third quarter as they wrestled the lead 59-58, courtesy of a 20-6 run, as they made crucial defensive stops to stifle the pesky Qataris.

➤The Filipinos played minus their home-crowd as they are serving their first game of two suspensions to play home games without an audience. FIBA served the penalty due to the infamous Australia-Philippines brawl last July in Bulacan’s Philippine Arena.

➤ The losing Qataris were led by big man Mohd Yousuf Mohammed who scored 26 points and 7 rebounds, while Tanguy Ngombo and Nasser Al-Reyes both finished with 17 buckets.

Aguilar and Matthew Wright replaced Allein Maliksi and Raymond Almazan for the Qatar joust, while Pringle was chosen as the naturalized player instead of Christian Stanhardinger for this game.

Greg Slaughter did not suit-up due to his ankle injury.

➤ The Philippine basketball team will next face Kazakhstan NT on November 30 to continue their Asian Qualifiers joruney.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 15-26, 39-52, 67-64, 92-81.

gilas pilipinas: 92

Aguilar 16, Cabagnot 16, Pringle 13, Belga 11, Lee 8, Wright 6, Sangalang 5, Lassiter 5, Erram 4, Taulava 3, Thompson 3, Norwood 2.

qatar nt: 81

Mohammed Mohd 26, Ngombo 17, Al-Rayes 17, Khalid 10, Mohammed Hassan 4, Gueye 3, Abdelbaset 3, Abdelhaleem 1, Lashin 0, Avdic 0.

Posted on September 18, 2018 - Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Asian Qualifiers:

Gilas Pilipinas stumbles to Iran NT

September 13, 2018 – Tehran

Philippine Basketball News 2018: Gilas Pilipinas failed to conquer the Iran NT which played almost the entire game without Hamed Haddadi this Thursday in the FIBA World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers in Tehran. Gilas threw away the impeccable game of Christian Stanhardinger who dropped 30 points and 12 rebounds. He was nearly unstoppable inside the paint against Iran’s other bigs.

Notes:

➤ Veteran gunner Samad Nikkah Bahrami hit clutch baskets and finished with 21 markers and 8 boards to lead Iran with an 81-73 win, while quick guard Sajjad Mashayekhi contributed 19 buckets and 4 dimes.

Haddadi did not play the whole three quarters, except in the fourth with 56 seconds left, when they were away big and assured of a victory. It was reported that Haddadi was actually nursing a groin injury.

➤ The Filipinos fought tooth and nail against the Iranians up until the final three minutes when Iran registered an 11 point lead, 77-66, courtesy of Bahrami dagger shots.

➤ Gilas failed to capitalize on the absence of Haddadi on the floor as they shot a dismal 5 of 28 (17.9%) clip from the rainbow country. Both Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter shot a woeful 1 of 7 threes from the arc, while Paul Lee Dalistan shot blanks on 0 of 2 treys.

➤ The game also got physical on two instances as Beau Belga was hit in the kisser with an elbow by Bahrami, and later a bloodied Lassiter was clipped in the face by Arsalan Kazemi.

➤ The Philippine basketball team is in a must-win situation against Qatar NT this Monday, September 17 at the Araneta Coliseum.

➤ Gilas is now third (4-3) in their FIBA grouping followed by Japan and Kazakhstan who are at 4th with a 3-4 slate. Only the top three from Group F will go ahead to play in the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2019 in China.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 21-22, 40-38, 63-59, 81-73.

iran: 81

Bahrami 21, Mashayekhi 19, Kazemi 11, Arghavan 8, Yakhchali 7, Jamshidi 6, Mirza 5, Hassanzadeh 4, Davoudichegani 0, Haddadi 0, Mozafarivanani 0.

GILAS PILIPINAS: 73

Standhardinger 30, Cabagnot 9, Belga 7, Lee 6, Thompson 5, Almazan 5, Lassiter 4, Taulava 3, Norwood 2, Sangalang 2, Maliksi 0, Erram 0.

Posted on September 14, 2018 - Tehran

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Philippine Basketball:

Gilas Pilipinas chooses Stanhardinger over injured Slaughter

September 12, 2018 – Manila Time

Philippine Basketball News 2018: Gilas Pilipinas will battle Iran NT in the fourth window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers tomorrow Thursday (September 13) sans injured Greg Slaughter and Stanley Pringle. Coach Yeng Guiao chose to field-in Christian Stanhardinger as the naturalized player to have a better match-up against Iran led by behemoth Hamed Haddadi at center position.

Notes:

Slaughter had the greenlight of FIBA to play as local, but his ankle injury sustained from his last game with Barangay Ginebra in the PBA, sidelined him from practicing with the Gilas’ crew. It was questionable if he could play at 100% against Haddadi given his injury.

Pringle would have also been a shoo-in in the line-up but being restricted as a naturalized player meant that it was either him or Stanhardinger who will be chosen for the post.

➤ Also cut from the line-up were Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright, who are both serving a one-game FIBA suspension.

➤ The final line-up includes Stanhardinger, Poy Erram, Asi Taulava, Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan, Ian Sangalang, Allein Maliksi, Alex Cabagnot, Scottie Thompson, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood and Marcio Lassiter.

➤ SBP president Al Panlilio announced the final roster this Wednesday morning.

➤ After the game against Iran, Gilas will then face Qatar on September 17 in a closed-door matchup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Posted September 12, 2018 - Manila Time

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA 2018:

Ginebra wins 3rd straight, frustrates NorthPort 104-98

September 5, 2018 – Araneta Coliseum

PBA News 2018: Barangay Ginebra won its’ 3rd straight, to frustrate the rejuvenated NorthPort Batang Pier, 104-98, in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. Justin Brownlee once again led the spirited Gin Kings run with his 27 points, 8 dimes and 8 boards, while Japeth Aguilar added 23 buckets and 9 caroms.

Notes:

➤ Four Ginebra players finished in double digits as Brownlee and Aguilar, as well LA Tenorio and Greg Slaughter, led the points haul. Tenorio ended-up with 18 buckets and 5 steals, as well as Greg Slaughter who dropped 18 markers and 9 rebounds.

Batang Pier was gearing-up for an upset over Ginebra who wasted a 19-point lead in the third. NorthPort even narrowed the gap to within 3 points with almost a minute remaining in the ballgame. Averting disaster, Aguilar registered timely clutch conversions as he nailed 4 straight points to lead the Kings to victory.

➤ NorthPort was ably led by Stanley Pringle, who just returned from the Asian Games, with his monstrous 34 points and 7 assists. Import Rashaw Wood also added 28 buckets, 11 caroms and 6 dimes.

➤ Curiously, center Greg Slaughter tweaked his ankle and did not come back to finish the ballgame for Ginebra. Meanwhile, Sean Anthony returned to the Batang Pier fold after being sidelined by injury.

➤ Ginebra is now 3-0 in the Governors’ Cup, while Batang Pier is still win-less at 0-4.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 33-15, 57-41, 79-73, 104-98.

ginebra: 104

Brownlee 27, Aguilar J 23, Tenorio 18, Slaughter 18, Ferrer 6, Thompson 4, Mariano 4, Caguioa 2, Chan 2.

northport: 98

Pringle 34, Woods 28, Tautuaa 11, Anthony 9, Taha 6, Fortuna 5, Guinto 3, Grey 2, Espinas 0, Arana 0, Gabayni 0.

Posted on September 6, 2018 - Araneta Coliseum Quezon City

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Asian Games 2018:

ROS Pilipinas flattens Syria, 109-55

August 31, 2018 – GBK Hall

Asian Games News 2018: ROS Pilipinas flattened Syria, 109-55 and copped 5th place in the 2018 Asian Games basketball this Friday at the GBK Hall in Jakarta. Cleveland Cavaliers’ Jordan Clarkson stamped his class by chalking-up 29 points, 6 dimes and 4 boards, while Fil-German Christian Standhardinger chimed-in 27 buckets.

Notes:

➤ The Philippines led by as much as 26 points at the half, 60-34.

James Yap suited-up once more and ended-up with 9 markers. Yap did not play in the battle against Japan and South Korea due to an apparent ankle injury.

Clarkson is set to go back to the NBA to begin training for the upcoming season with the post-Lebron era Cavaliers.

ROS Pilipinas failed to get to the medal rounds after the heart-breaking loss to nemesis South Korea in the Asiad quarterfinals.

➤ The fifth place finish of the Philippine basketball team is an upgrade from 2014 (Incheon) when they placed 7th. RP Five fared better at 4th place in 2002 (Busan) and last bagged a bronze medal courtesy of the PBA Centennial team in 1998 (Bangkok).

Game Scores:
Quarters: 38-16, 60-34, 91-44, 109-55.

ros pilipinas: 109

Clarkson 29, Standhardinger 27, Taulava 11, Pringle 10, Yap 9, Belga 6, Erram 5, Tiu 5, Ahanmisi 3, Norwood 2, Lee Dalistan 2, Almazan 0.

syria nt: 55

Aljabi 23, Bakar 9, Saddir 6, Al Ghamian 6, Alhamwi 6, Kasaballi 2, Al Osh 2, Idelbi 0, Khouri 0.

Posted on September 1, 2018 - GBK Hall Jakarta

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

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