Japan downs RP, 87-85

KERBY Raymundo of Powerade Team Pilipinas drives along the baseline against a Japanese defender. (Photo by Tony Lu)

CYRUS Baguio of Powerade Team Pilipinas looks to pass against a Japanese defender. (Photo by Tony Lu)



Team Standings
KOREA 3 0
TAIWAN-A 3 0
JORDAN 2 0
LEBANON 2 1
IRAN 1 1
RP 1 3
JAPAN 1 2
KAZAKHSTAN 0 3
TAIWAN-B 0 3

Games Wednesday
1 p.m. – Japan (1-2) vs. Iran (1-1)
3 p.m. – Korea (3-0) vs. Jordan (2-0)
5 p.m. – Taiwan-B (0-3) vs. Kazakhstan (0-3)
7 p.m. – Lebanon (2-1) vs. RP (1-3)



TAIPEI – Powerade-Team Pilipinas squandered the gains of an earlier revival, blowing a 19-point second quarter lead Tuesday against long-time Asian rival Japan to end up losing, 87-85, in the 31st William Jones Cup at the Hsinchuang gym.

The tactical nature of the meeting between the old protagonists bracketed in Group A – along with South Korea and Sri Lanka – of the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China next month gave the outcome a different look.

With both teams determined to keep a few aces hidden before the actual battle for berths to the 16th World Championship in Istanbul next year begins, national coach Yeng Guiao and his Japanese counterpart claimed a measure of triumph after the game.

“Ang emphasis talaga is to learn as much as we can against them,” Guiao said. “We know naman in our hearts na kaya natin silang talunin pag dating sa Tianjin.”

But after watching Japan scuttle the double-digit RP team deficit with its outside shooting, and seeing Jajyjay Helterbrand’s dying-second attempt swatted away, even Guiao had to admit victory, as much as the lessons learned from the loss, would have been preferred.

“Mas maganda kung panalo siempre,” he said.

Osama Kuraishi, the Japanese coach, said through an interpreter that he had urged his players to “go hard for the victory.”

Kuraishi added: “This is a big win for us.”

The Nationals trailed, 86-82, when Jared Dillinger drained a way-out 3-point shot to cut Japan’s lead to one with four seconds left.

Helterbrand gave up a foul on Shinsuke Kashiwagi who was 7 for 7 from the line up that point. The 5-10 playmaker split his charities and Guiao called time, designing a play with Helterbrand inbounding from mid-court.

The Japanese broke up the first throw-in and the RP team again called time. Helterbrand returned for the throw-in, bounced the ball off Kashiwagi’s back, picked it up, and took aim from just outside the 3-point arc, only to have the ball swatted away by Kashiwagi before it could be launched.

“We were going for a win, a three-point shot,” said Guiao. “Na-fumble lang.”

Kashiwagi had 12 points behind center Kosuk Takeuchi who had 24 points, and the Japanese used their outside shooting and aggressive defense to come back from a 36-14 deficit early in the second and wrest control.

Japeth Aguilar, in his finest performance so far, scored 17 points for Team RP while Willie Miller added 14.

The Nationals, who ended a two-game losing start by beating Kazakhstan Monday, were hurt by their turnovers (24 against Japan’s 15) and their inability to get as often to the free throw line (8 of 9) where Japan shot 24 of 33.

With a 1-3 record, Powerade-RP, who lost James Yap late in the game after the Purefoods hotshot was hit on the nape during a scramble, goes up against Lebanon and Fadih El-Khatib at 7 p.m. Wednesday even as unbeaten teams South Korea and Jordan clash at 3 p.m.

In an earlier game, Lebanon nipped Kazakstan, 77-73, in a game where both teams walked out in the first half in disgust over officiating before they were persuaded to return and finish the game.

***
NOTES: Portuguese Mario Palma, the Jordan coach, points to China, Iran and Lebanon as the teams to beat in the FIBA-Asia World Championship qualifier in Tianjin…Lebanon mentor Dragan Raca confirms Lebanon is proceeding straight to the Philippines after ng the Jones Cup for two tuneup games against a non-PBA team.

Scores:

JAPAN 87 – Takeuchi 24, Kashiwagi 12, Takeda 9, Ishizaki 9, Amino 7, Orimo 7, Sakurai 7, Igarashi 5, Ito 4, Okada 3.

RP 85 – Aguilar 17, Miller 14, Santos 10, Thoss 8, Dillinger 8, Raymundo 5, Yap 5, De Ocampo 5, Norwood 5, Baguio 4, Helterbrand 2, Taulava 2.

Quarters: 12-27; 36-40; 61-61; 87-85