NATIONALS END LITHUANIAN SERIES ON LOSING NOTE
With a short-handed lineup, Gilas Pilipinas dropped the finale of its seven-game Lithuanian odyssey Saturday night.
The Filipinos sorely missed Jayson Castro and Gabe Norwood as they bowed to Birstono Jazz-Diremta, 79-86, in their rematch and thus closed out their Lithuanian tune-up series with a 5-2 win-loss record.
“Didnt play Jace (ankle) & Gabe (left na 4 his wedding) still no excuse for losing,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes in his Twitter account.
“Weren’t ready to play today,” said assistant coach Josh Reyes in his own Twitter page.
While the Filipinos showed up with a crippled lineup, the Lithuanians came in full force, including the import that they didn’t play in the previous match.
And the home team played with its heart out, obviously eager to avenge its 63-74 defeat in the initial game.
“Final game today. Originally not part of the sched but this team, Jazz-Diremta, requested a rematch when we won our game vs them,” tweeted the younger Reyes before the game.
The Lithuanians dominated the boards and pummeled the Filipinos in the second half, wiping out a six-point first-half deficit.
Gary David made 25 points with Marcus Douthit and LA Tenorio adding 13 apiece for the Filipinos who break camp in Klaipeda, Lithuania Sunday and are expected to be back in Manila Tuesday. (SB)
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