Good to read such reports about Indian Basketball team, wonder when such praises will come for Football
UNFAZED by the height of a talented Indian team that had beaten host nation China and given Iran a scare, leading by 12 points in the first half before eventually losing out, Gilas Pilipinas once again demonstrated its courage and fighting heart to eke out a nerve-wracking 70-66 victory and move into a semifinal showdown with the defending champion Iranians in the 5th FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China today.
Meanwhile, a 12-0 run that helped Iran close the first quarter with a handy lead, proved good enough to enter the semifinals with a 75-60 over Jordan and ensure a face off with the Philippines, whom they beat in the FIBA Asia Championships in Manila last year.
Following a similar frantic 71-70 win over Jordan on Tuesday, coach Chot Reyes told the Manila Standard the Indians were bound to present him with all sorts of problems, especially since they have tall players, who are not like the gangling, fumbling players of the years past.
The tallest Indian is Amritpak Singh, a 6’ 9 ½” center, who scored 15 points against Japan and 11 against Iran. He is backed up by 6’8” Rikin Shantilal Pethani, 6’8 ½” center-forward Palpreet Singh Brar and 6’8” forward Amjyot Singh, who scored 17 points against Iran and 13 in the game against China.
Reyes said the Indian squad under American coach Scott Flemming can play and have good skills with their height likely to be a major factor against the smaller Filipinos, who will have to rely on naturalized center Marcus Douthit to hold the fort.
After a tentative start, the Filipinos soon found the range and with timely hits and a surprising inside game ended the first half with a 12-point lead 45-33.
A maze of turnovers, fancy behind-the-back passes by Jay Washington and Kevin Alas that went nowhere added to the chagrin of coach Reyes as the Indians stormed back before time ran out.
A triple by Paul Lee with just over four minutes left in the third quarter gave the Philippines a 56-40 lead before the two teams entered the final stanza with the Gilas boys leading, 60-47.
A turnover by Alas at the start of the 4th quarter and a basket by Amjyot Singh to cut the lead to 11 at 60-49 was quickly answered by a Junemar Fajardo tap-in and a basket by Ranidel de Ocampo to make it a 15 point lead at 64-49 with 8:35 to play.
Spain and Argentina have a very good basketball team. India should have a series with these countries so as to improve further. Even russians and french play very good basketball.
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UNFAZED by the height of a talented Indian team that had beaten host nation China and given Iran a scare, leading by 12 points in the first half before eventually losing out, Gilas Pilipinas once again demonstrated its courage and fighting heart to eke out a nerve-wracking 70-66 victory and move into a semifinal showdown with the defending champion Iranians in the 5th FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China today.
Meanwhile, a 12-0 run that helped Iran close the first quarter with a handy lead, proved good enough to enter the semifinals with a 75-60 over Jordan and ensure a face off with the Philippines, whom they beat in the FIBA Asia Championships in Manila last year.
Following a similar frantic 71-70 win over Jordan on Tuesday, coach Chot Reyes told the Manila Standard the Indians were bound to present him with all sorts of problems, especially since they have tall players, who are not like the gangling, fumbling players of the years past.
The tallest Indian is Amritpak Singh, a 6’ 9 ½” center, who scored 15 points against Japan and 11 against Iran. He is backed up by 6’8” Rikin Shantilal Pethani, 6’8 ½” center-forward Palpreet Singh Brar and 6’8” forward Amjyot Singh, who scored 17 points against Iran and 13 in the game against China.
Reyes said the Indian squad under American coach Scott Flemming can play and have good skills with their height likely to be a major factor against the smaller Filipinos, who will have to rely on naturalized center Marcus Douthit to hold the fort.
After a tentative start, the Filipinos soon found the range and with timely hits and a surprising inside game ended the first half with a 12-point lead 45-33.
A maze of turnovers, fancy behind-the-back passes by Jay Washington and Kevin Alas that went nowhere added to the chagrin of coach Reyes as the Indians stormed back before time ran out.
A triple by Paul Lee with just over four minutes left in the third quarter gave the Philippines a 56-40 lead before the two teams entered the final stanza with the Gilas boys leading, 60-47.
A turnover by Alas at the start of the 4th quarter and a basket by Amjyot Singh to cut the lead to 11 at 60-49 was quickly answered by a Junemar Fajardo tap-in and a basket by Ranidel de Ocampo to make it a 15 point lead at 64-49 with 8:35 to play.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/07/18/gilas-iran-set-semis-clash/