BAHRAIN exposed Gilas Pilipinas’ lack of ceiling in the frontcourt as its big men asserted their might in the middle of the team’s 89-85 win in the 20th Asian Games on Friday.
National coach Tim Cone admitted it was difficult stopping Bahrain’s pair of naturalized player JaKarr Sampson (6-foot-7) and Elijah Thomas (6-foot-9) from doing their things inside.
Bahrain’s other naturalized players in Uros Illic stands at 6-9 and Kelechi Ajukwa is at 6-7.
READ: Oftana's 31 all for naught as Gilas comeback vs Bahrain runs out of time
“We had trouble defending their size,” said Cone. “We had to collapse down on their big men and couldn’t cover their shooters.”
Thomas and Sampson combined for 44 points or half of Bahrain’s total output.
Sampson, the former NBA player, also grabbed 13 rebounds and four assists, while Thomas had four boards and three feeds for the Bahrainis, who shot 53 percent from the field, including 43 percent from three-point range.
Despite the struggles, Gilas outrebounded Bahrain, 51-35, with Zavier Lucero taking in a team-high nine rebounds, while guards Don Trollano and Adrian Nocum with eight and seven, apiece.
And Cone was proud of the way Gilas kept coming at Bahrain, which led by as many as 10 in the first half and 16 in the second.
“Still our guys battled. We had our chances, but a couple of bad stretches at the end of the half and the third quarter really changed the game in their favor,” said the Gilas coach.
Things don’t get better for Gilas as it battles tough and physical-playing Kazakhstan on Saturday night.
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