Smart-Gilas Pilipinas’ JV Casio drives past Lebanon’s Elie Stephen (9) and Ali Fakhreddine (12) during their FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup semifinal match at the Ghazir Stadium, North Beirut, Lebanon Saturday night. Lebanon won, 81-80. (AFP)

Games Sunday
(Ghazir Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon)
5 p.m. — Smart-Gilas vs Qatar
7 p.m. — Lebanon vs Japan

Lebanon needed to use its vast experience and deeper bench to beat the courageous Smart-Gilas Pilipinas squad, 81-80, in their knockout semifinal encounter in the FIBA-Asia Stankovic Cup Saturday night at the Ghazir Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon.

Returning to the host team for this tournament, wingman Fadi El Khatib scored a game-high 25 points while former NBA player Jackson Vroman contributed 23 points as Lebanon outlasted the Nationals in a thrilling finish and set up a Finals date against Japan.

The setback relegated Smart-Gilas to the battle for bronze medal Sunday against Qatar, which absorbed a 78-76 overtime loss to Japan in their own semis encounter.

Fil-Am guard Marcio Lassiter led the undermanned national team with 25 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the three-point territory.

Chris Tiu connected 4-of-6 tries from the 3-point area to finish with 16 while JV Casio added 17 points for Smart-Gilas.

Lebanon led by 10 points, 75-65, with six minutes to play, but the RP team moved within striking distance, 77-78, with 1:32 left behind a 12-3 run highlighted by three three-pointers courtesy of Lassiter, Mac Baracael and Tiu.

After trading missed shots, including a triple attempt by Lassiter and a lay-up by Baracael, El Khatib made a pair of free throws to put Lebanon up, 80-77, with 18.6 seconds left.

Casio and Lebanon’s Ronnie Fahed split their free throws in the next plays, before the former nailed two foul shots as Smart-Gilas got within 80-81 with nine seconds left. After El Khatib missed his free throws, the Nationals had a chance to win it all in the final 8.1 seconds.

However, Casio was triple-teamed on the left side, forcing him to pass the leather to Lassiter, who was fouled at the buzzer while attempting a shot.

The referees though ruled there was no time left when the call was made.

Despite the loss, Smart-Gilas Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman said he was satisfied with the way the Nationals played.

“We played the best game since I became coach of the Smart-Gilas team,” said the 55-year-old Toroman, who formed the team organized by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in early 2009. “The game was great, Lebanon played good.”

“The fighting spirit of the players was there, which I didn’t see in a long time,” added Toroman, whose team converted 15-of-31 three-pointers.

The national team will play Qatar for the bronze late Sunday, and Toroman said: “It will be a tough game. I hope that we can find the energy and motivation because the players were disappointed after the game because they deserved to win.”

The scores:
LEBANON 81 — El Khatib 25, Vroman 23, Stephan 10, El Nour 7, Fakhreddine 7, Fahed 4, Rustom 3, Kanaan 2, Mahmoud 0.

PHILIPPINES 80 — Lassiter 25, Casio 17, Tiu 16, Barroca 5, Taulava 5, Baracael 8, Aguilar 3, Ababou 1, Ballesteros 0.

Quarters: 27-22, 49-45, 67-62, 81-80