PH cagers regain respect in Asian Games

No thanks to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Filipinos again relished their stature as a revered power in the dash-
and-dribble sport in the Asian Games.

From a record low seventh in the 2014 Asiad in South Korea, the National quintet hastily assembled by coach Yeng
Guiao and reinforced at the last minute by Jordan Clarkson of the Cleveland Cavaliers finished fifth this time by whipping
Japan (113-80) and Syria (109-55) after earlier giving China and defending champion South Korea a big scare before
bowing out.

The Chinese, who were lucky to escape with an 82-80 decision when Paul Lee missed his three-point shot with six
seconds left in their Group D clash for top spot in the eliminations, went on to regain the title with an 84-72 decision of
Iran on Friday. The Koreans, who trailed the Filipinos by eight points twice in the last quarter before prevailing, 91-82, in
their quarterfinal duel, settled for the bronze medal by downing Chinese Taipei, 89-81.

A win over China would have sent the Filipinos against Indonesia, not Korea, in the quarterfinals and an expected
semifinal meeting with Chinese Taipei, which had already lost twice to the nationals along with the Japanese in the first
window of the Fiba World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers.

After beating the Philippines, Korea went down to Iran and China blasted Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.

Lost in the euphoria of the Filipinos’ best finish since losing to Kazakhstan in the bronze medal fight in the 2002 Busan
Asiad was the fact that the SBP had earlier decided to withdraw from this year’s Games following the brawl that marred
the Gilas Pilipinas-Australia match in their second meeting in the Fiba Asia qualifiers.

Before the melee, SBP was so engrossed with the Fiba campaign that little has been known who are going to the
Asiad.

It was only the public outcry and reportedly the intervention of a top government official that forced SBP to change its
mind. Guiao then assembled a squad with his former Rain or Shine standouts as nucleus and the team found a gem of a
reinforcement when the NBA allowed Clarkson, whose mother is from Angeles City, to join the national team.

Guiao, who said the nationals could have achieved more with ample time to prepare for the Asiad, will be on another
scrambling mission as PH coach in place of the suspended Chot Reyes in the coming fourth window of the Fiba Asia
qualifiers. After failing to meet Iran in the Asiad, the nationals will visit the Iranians in Tehran on Sept. 13 before playing
host to Qatar in a closed-door game in Manila on Sept. 17.

The new PH lineup will come from a list of 14 players from the PBA, including eight holdovers from the Asiad roster.
TNT ends skid; Ginebra on top
TNT is obviously in dire need of an import change and the KaTropa should make the replacement in the quickest time
possible.

The KaTropa survived the Columbian Dyip in overtime, 118-114, on Sunday night in the PBA Governors’ Cup with
minimal help from Stacy Davis to break out of a slump that forced team management to place head coach Nash Racela
on leave.

“It’s taking him (Davis) a long time to adopt (to our system). We have decided to replace him,” said TNT assistant coach
Eric Gonzales, who temporarily took over Racela.

After dropping three straight games, the last two by an average losing margin of 29.5 points, TNT bigwigs have put
Racela on forced leave following the team’s worst start in years.

The KaTropa stopped the slide for their only second win in six games, but not after the Dyip gave them a huge scare in
extra time. Jayson Castro nailed the go-ahead three and Terrence Romeo scored on a drive against Rashawn McCarthy
for a 117-114 lead, before Castro forced import Akeem Wright into committing a decisive turnover that finished off the
Dyip for good.

Jerramy King fired four threes and had 26 points while Wright added 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists but threw
the ball away nine times, including that final play that kept Columbian winless in five starts.

Barangay Ginebra later improved to 2-0 and climbed to a share of the lead with idle sister team Magnolia after pinning a
first loss on Alaska, 109-101.

It was the Aces’ first defeat in three games.

For the fourth straight game, Davis had little contribution to the TNT cause and wasn’t even fielded in late in the final
quarter when the KaTropa were trying to fend off the Dyip.

“Team management is working on his replacement,” said Gonzales.

Davis had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes, numbers that the KaTropa find unacceptable.

The KaTropa will have the luxury of choosing the perfect import for them as the league takes a long break after
Wednesday’s games to give way to the Fiba World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers where Gilas Pilipinas faces Iran and Qatar.

“We have to take advantage of the long break and prepare for our next game,” said Gonzales.

TNT won’t see action until Sept. 22 in Passi, Iloilo City, where it faces the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who will open
their conference after lending their core to the national team in the Asian Games.

After Wednesday’s double header at Smart Araneta Coliseum where San Miguel Beer takes on Blackwater at 4:30 p.m
and Barangay Ginebra faces NorthPort at 7 p.m., the PBA resumes on Sept. 19.

The First Game scores:

Barely touching down in Manila after representing the country in the Asian Games in Indonesia, Standhardinger
scored a career-high 36 points in just 28 minutes of action to give the Beermen a winning start to the tournament.

National head coach Yeng Guiao was also at the Big Dome to be with NLEX, but did not call the shots for the team.

The Road Warriors fell to 3-2.

Twenty-four hours after he played major minutes in the Philippines' 54-point rout of Syria in Jakarta, Standhardinger
picked up where he left off, making 14 of 17 shots and grabbing 11 rebounds.

“Obviously when you get into a rhythm, it’s much easier as a basketball player to really perform,” said
Standhardinger, who was fielded late in the first quarter and took advantage of the absence of injured 4-time MVP
June Mar Fajardo.

“Today, I actually just sprinted hard. I just go hard like I normally do and Alex (Cabagnot), Chris (Ross) and all the
guys did a good job finding me on open spots and I just had to finish them.”

Standhardinger scored 13 of his points in the second quarter, which started close but eventually went the Beermen's
way as halftime neared.

San Miguel took full control of the game when it went on a 13-0 run in the third quarter extending a 7-point lead to
85-65.

AZ Reid finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds, while Cabagnot added 23 points and 9 assists for San Miguel.

“I want to commend Christian. He just came off a flight. He was a little late today and through all that he still played
well, so kudos to Christian,” Cabagnot said.

Aaron Fuller led NLEX with 36 points and 16 rebounds.