Coach Reyes remorseful over Gilas’ loss with Iran

Smart Gilas Pilipinas is official out of the running for a medal in the Asian Games (Photo courtesy of Smart Gilas Basketball on Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines – Coach Chot Reyes was distressed with the late game miscues and useless ploys that cost Gilas Pilipinas a chance for an overturn win against Iran during their Group E encounter in the 17th Asian Games basketball competitions in Incheon, South Korea.

Gilas got beaten in the concluding minutes of the fourth quarter even after leading by seven points in the last six minutes.

“I’m upset because we lost a game we should’ve won. We lost a game on our own knees.” Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes said in the PBA website.

“We were hitting right back at Iran. But through the physicality and the foul troubles, we lost the game due to unforced errors, unsportsmanlike foul on (Marc) Pingris, and a technical foul on (JuneMar) Fajardo,” he added. “We have to be better than that. We have to be smarter than that.”

In the first quarter, Iran came with a strong start. But a favorable second quarter was on the Philippines, leading Iran with seven points. Gilas on Iran during the halftime break, however, was down to 36-34.

Gilas Pilipinas was able to maintain their lead in the third quarter. LA Tenorio secured a 51-44 lead with his back-to-back three-point shots.

A crucial point for Gilas, however, was in the fourth quarter where they failed to score a basket in the final six minutes.

Only Paul Lee and Gabe Norwood’s free throws enabled the team to continue within striking distance.

Down three points, Marcus Douthit was unsuccessful to make a competitive shot from beyond the arc and clanged off the front of the rim instead.

“Douthit shouldn’t have shot that. But that was the shot that Iran was willing was willing to give up,” Coach Reyes said.

Prior to the game, both Iran and the Philippines were toward the quarter finals as both teams already defeated India to take the top two spots in their three-team group.

Gilas pushed Iran to the edge in what was a rematch of their finals showdown from the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

Coach Reyes was also puzzled with facing powerhouse Iran so early in the basketball tournament.

“Just to have us play Iran so early is pretty puzzling to me. But I have learned long ago to expect the worst in international competitions. We just have to learn to focus on what we have control of,” Coach Reyes said.

With report from Cyra Moraleda