Gilas Pilipinas loses by 21 to Lebanon
In what was billed as a pivotal test for Gilas Pilipinas against a true Asian powerhouse, the Nationals fell short, stumbling to a disappointing 75-54 defeat against Lebanon in the 2nd Doha International Cup at the Qatar University Sports Complex late Saturday, February 15 (Manila time).
Gilas managed to keep pace with the Cedars for the first three quarters—at one point even taking the lead—but they completely lost their momentum in the fourth quarter, mustering a mere six points. The world No. 29 Lebanese squad capitalized on this lapse, pulling away decisively.
A sluggish start in the final period proved catastrophic for the Filipinos, who could not counter Lebanon’s scorching 14-0 run that transformed a tightly contested 51-50 battle into an overwhelming 65-50 blowout.
This surge was one from which Gilas never recovered, rendering the impressive double-double performance of Justin Brownlee—who tallied 21 points and 11 rebounds—largely ineffective.
The lack of offensive support was evident, with Calvin Oftana being the only other player to break into double digits, contributing 10 points. Meanwhile, Scottie Thompson registered a modest seven points alongside his 11 rebounds.
On the Lebanese side, Gerard Hadidian stepped up, scoring eight of his team-high 18 points in the closing moments, leading a 26-point barrage from the Cedars to seal the victory.
Jad Khalil also contributed with 18 points, while Karim Zeinoun and Ater James Madok added 13 and 12 points respectively.
Gilas suffered its first loss in this pocket tournament, which serves as a crucial precursor for the Nationals’ upcoming road games in the third and final window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Taiwan and New Zealand.
The Nationals kicked off the tournament with a narrow 74-71 victory over Qatar, but this setback against Lebanon dampened their momentum. In contrast, the Cedars had previously endured an 82-70 defeat against Egypt before clinching their breakthrough win against Gilas.
Gilas will look to regroup and finish the tournament on a high note against the Pharaohs early Monday morning, February 17 (Manila time).
