By Francis Allan L. Angelo
Gilas Pilipinas suffered a 75-54 defeat against Lebanon in the 2nd Doha International Cup at the Qatar University Sports Complex on Sunday morning (Manila time).
The Philippine team, which had recently secured a come-from-behind victory over host nation Qatar, struggled in the final quarter, managing only six points while allowing Lebanon to surge ahead.
The game remained competitive through the first three quarters. Gilas held a narrow 28-26 lead at halftime and extended it to 46-40 late in the third period following a three-point play by Scottie Thompson.
However, Lebanon responded with an 11-2 run, reclaiming the lead at 51-48 as the quarter concluded.
In the final frame, Lebanon intensified their defense, forcing multiple turnovers from the Filipinos. A pivotal moment came when Jad Khalil sank a three-pointer, capping a 14-0 run that put Lebanon ahead 65-50 with just over five minutes remaining. Gilas was unable to recover, as their offense stalled and Lebanon continued to capitalize on their mistakes.
Justin Brownlee led the scoring for Gilas with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Calvin Oftana was the only other Filipino in double figures, contributing 10 points.
Notably, key players Dwight Ramos and June Mar Fajardo were limited to a combined seven points, a stark contrast to their performances in the previous game against Qatar.
Lebanon’s offense was spearheaded by Gerard Hadidian and Jad Khalil, each scoring 18 points. Karim Zeinoun added 13 points, while Ater Majok contributed 12 points and nine rebounds, playing a crucial role in both offense and defense.
The loss brings Gilas Pilipinas to a 1-1 record in the tournament, the same as Lebanon’s standing. The team will aim to conclude the competition on a positive note as they face Egypt on Monday at 1:30 a.m. Manila time.
The Doha International Cup serves as a preparatory event for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Gilas Pilipinas has already secured qualification for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia.
Head coach Tim Cone has emphasized the importance of these matches in building team chemistry and assessing player readiness ahead of the qualifiers.
Reflecting on the game, Coach Cone noted the team’s struggles in maintaining consistency throughout the match.
“We had moments where we executed well, but our lapses, especially in the fourth quarter, cost us the game,” he said. “It’s a learning experience, and we’ll use this to improve moving forward.”
