Gilas
Pilipinas came back from a fourth quarter deficit and subdued the defending
champion SCFA (Southern California Fukienese Association) squad, 81-77, to
complete a 5-game sweep of the 2013 Super Kung Sheung Cup at the Queen
Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong, China.
Marcus
Douthit came to play in the final game, scoring 19 points, grabbing 20
rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, getting 4 steals, and blocking 4 shots in a
superb all-around effort. He was backstopped by the guard corps of Gary David,
Kevin Alas, and Garvo Lanete, all of whom combined for 39 markers. Alas was
adjudged tournament MVP after the momentous Gilas win.
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| Gilas Pilipinas won another championship after conquering the 2013 Super Kung Sheung Cup in Hong Kong. (image from the Facebook page of Mosh Reyes) |
A day
earlier, Gilas disposed of the Changsha Park Lane Snow Wolves, 90-69, thanks to
the 18-point explosion of Air 21 Express stalwart KG Cañaleta. Douthit also did
well in that match with 13 points and 8 boards, while Alas registered 10
markers.
The Gilas
team, composed mostly of players fresh out of college and from the Philippine
cadet pool, returns home as heroes. This raises the spirit and expectations of
the basketball-mad Pinoy public, who are raring to get the 2013 FIBA Asia
tournament underway after being awarded hosting rights for the first time in
four decades.
SCFA failed
to defend the title it won last year despite the superb efforts of Trayvonte
Britt, Robert Curtis, and Andrew Der. Britt and Der paired up for 33 points,
while Curtis finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
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| Kevin Alas was named the MVP of the tournament despite coming off the bench as the last man in most of the games. (image by Jan Dizon/Filoil Flying V Sports) |
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| All heart. All Pilipinas. (image from the Facebook page of Mosh Reyes) |
Other Final
Day Results:
In the third
place match, Hong Kong beat Changsha Park Lane, 81-71, thanks to four players
finishing in double-figures, led by the hot shooting of 6’5 slotman Wong Chun
Wai. Wong registered 17 points on the strength of 4 treys to go along with 8
rebounds and 2 steals. Fong Shing Yee scored 15 points for support. Changsha
was led by Gao Yan’s 14 points and 5 rebounds.
Despite the
home team finishing in third place, it is worth noting that some of Hong Kong’s
main national players didn’t play in this tournament due to injury. Absent were
main guns Lau Hoi-To and Lee Shu-Wing, as well as team captain Poon Chi-Ho. All
three are expected to return to NT action for the 2013 East Asian Basketball
Association (EABA) tournament, which will serve as a qualifying meet for 2013
FIBA Asia Championships. Five slots for the EABA teams are up for grabs, with
China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan expected to gobble up the first four. It’s
expected that Hong Kong will be in the thick of the fight for the fifth spot
with the national sides of Mongolia and, perhaps, North Korea.
Day 4
Results:
Thailand
beat Indonesia, 85-73, for seventh place.
Hong Kong
Xinlibao scraped by Malaysia, 80-79, for fifth place.
Box Scores
may be viewed here.
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