Gilas rips Aussie pro squad for 2nd win in Jones Cup

Despite playing bad in the eyes of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, the Smart Gilas Pilipinas pounded the Townsville Crocs of Australia for a 90-64 win in the 32nd William Jones Cup on Friday at the Hsinchuang Gymnasium in Taipei County.

Marcus Douthit came off the bench for 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Dylan Ababou finally
got on track connecting 5-of-6 from downtown to also finish with 17.

Ababou led the RP team hopefuls' 24-13 run in the second quarter that turned a 24-21 deficit to a 45-37 halftime spread.

Despite the win, which came a day after Gilas' 81-68 loss to defending champion Iran, Toroman said he was not satisfied with the way his team reacted against the rugged-playing Aussies.

"We didn't play good," said Toroman. "Our reaction to the game was not good. We made a lot of wrong decisions in the first quarter."

"In the end it was an easy win for us. But I'm not satisfied. No doubt, we are a better team, more skilled, we are younger. But it's very difficult to play, maybe it was my mistake."

With a 2-1 (win-loss) record, Gilas takes a break on Saturday and resume its title quest on Sunday against host Chinese-Taipei with both Chris Tiu and Mark Baracael well-rested after Toroman opted not to play them against Australia.

Taiwan defeated their first two opponents by an average of 27 points. The hosts routed Townsville, 103-55, on Wednesday then followed it up with a 74-64 thrashing of the Taiwan U All Stars on Thursday.

Reigning two-time FIBA-Asia men's champion Iran remained undefeated edging out Japan, 77-73.

Ababou's fifth three-pointer of the game sparked the game-clinching run for the Nationals.

Following the basket from long range by the former University of Santo Tomas stalwart,

JV Casio joined the scoring fray by also hitting from downtown while Filipino-American guard Marcio Lassiter scored on a lay up to give Smart Gilas Pilipinas its biggest lead at 78-51 with 7:24 to play.

Damian Matacz scored 16 points to lead the winless Aussies.

Scores:
Gilas Pilipinas RP 90 – Douthit 17, Ababou 17, Slaughter 11, Lutz 9, Lassiter 8, Casio 7, Al-Hussaini 7, Aguilar 5, Ballesteros 4, Jazul 3, Barroca 2, Guevarra 0.
Townsville Crocs 64 – Matacs 16, Smith 13, Clint 10, Edwards 9, Estcourt 7, Regan 5, Biddle 2, Clarke 2, Stanley 0, Phelan 0, Buckner 0.
Quarter scores: 21-24, 45-37, 67-51, 90-64.