ORIGINAL Smart Gilas-Pilipinas members Marcus Douthit and Chris Tiu led the way in a 96-58 rout of Singapore on Wednesday to start off their campaign in the Seaba championships at the 700 Year stadium in Chang Mai, Thailand.
Douthit had 21 points while Tiu added 18 points and the two combined for 10 of the Nationals’ 23 points in a pivotal second quarter that keyed Gilas' rousing debut in the tournament.
Alaska Aces star LA Tenorio and Garvo Lanete also had 11 markers each for Smart Gilas.
The Philippine team of Jong Uichico see action again on Thursday against Indonesia, which will be without standouts Mario Wuysang, Amin Priantono and Rony Gunawan.
Only Arki Wisnu, Galank Gunawan and Christian Sitepu are available among the mainstays of the Indonesia Warriors squad that beat the San Miguel Beermen in the last Asean Basketball League finals.
The Nationals started out on fire with a 22-12 lead before limiting Singapore to only eight points in the second period. A slam dunk by Douthit made it 42-18 en route to a 45-20 halftime lead.
Malaysia and Thailand also won their first game assignments of the tournament serving as a qualifier to the Fiba-Asia Cup, otherwise known as the Stankovic Cup..
Malaysia routed Indonesia, 70-50, while Thailand defeated Singapore, 67-62, on Tuesday.
The scores:
PHILIPPINES 96 — Douthit 21, Tiu 18, Tenorio 11, Lanete 11, Thoss 9, Baracael 7, Hermida 6, Marcelo 6, Ramos 4, Monfort 3, Co 0.
SINGAPORE 58 — Folkoff 12, Ng 10, Oh 9, Khoo 8, Teo 7, Lim 6, Wong 2, Koh 2, Matialakan 2, Liew 0, Wu 0, Goh 0.
Quarterscores: 22-12, 45-20, 74-43, 96-58.
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