Gilas Stuns Jordan, wins PIC crown
Smart-Gilas National team stunned Jordan, 91-80, to win the Smart Philippine International challenge Sunday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Mac Baracael shown brightest for the Nationals as he topscored with 22 points as Smart-Gilas got back at the FIBA World Championship-bound Jordan.
American Marcus Doughit added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Meanhile the exhibition match was nearly turned into free-for-all as Talk ’N Text's Mac Cardona punched China’s Dongguan import Ronald Allen in the Tropang Texters' 85-73 win.
With 4:31 remaining in the contest, Allen gave a driving Cardona a hard foul that saw the veteran guard fall hard on the floor.
So incensed was Cardona over the foul tactic of the Chinese import that he threw a stinging right – ala-Manny Pacquiao – the face of Allen.
A furious Allen tried to get back at Cardona, but he was restrained by teammates, and coach Brian Goorjian led him back to their dressing room.
Just as everything seemed to have mellowed down, Allen came storming back from the other side of the locker room entrance in the hope of getting back at Cardona. The Tropang Texters, however, were alerted by the presence of Allen, so they stood and approached him.
But before another punch could be thrown, cooler heads, led by the Smart Gilas-RP team and import Marcus Douthit, intervened and pacified.
Reserve Mark Yee led the Tropang Texters with 15 points.
Meantime, Smart Gilas-RP team coach Rajko Toroman said a decision will be made this week if 6-foot-10 Douthit has passed his tryout to be a candidate for naturalization.
"We will make a decision after this tournament but let's see if Marcus is the one," said Toroman, who was obviously impressed with the performance of the import during their 74-64 win over Dongguan last Thursday.




