Smart Gilas breaks through with Tiu
November 07, 2009 | 10:48AMGame Notes from Smart Gilas vs Coca-Cola game 11.06.2009 Cuneta Astrodome:
- Final Score: Smart Gilas def Coca-Cola 98-93
- First win by Gilas over a PBA team
- Best Player: Chris Tiu 18 pts 9 rebs 9 assists 3/5 3pts (almost a triple-double!)
- Game played under FIBA rules (except for 12 minute quarters)
- No-bearing game for both teams
- Both teams didn’t play like game was no-bearing
- Tiu led strong start by Gilas with 10 pts in 1st quarter
- CJ Giles wasn’t only back physically, but emotionally as well
- Giles went after 3 loose balls by jumping into the stands
- Giles, however, was in foul trouble the entire game. He fouled out in the 4th period.
- Gilas also made 9-0 run in the second period. They led by as many 13 points in 1st half
- Halftime score 53-49
- Tiu had 12 pts and 7 rebs by halftime
- Tiu and fellow Atenean Wesley Gonzales had physical matchup. The ex-Blue Eagles pushed, pulled one another’s jerseys and slapped arms everytime they guarded each other
- Chris Tiu Myth: “He’s a finesse player.” Anyone who has played against Tiu will disagree
- FEU well-represented with Baracael, Barroca, Cawaling, Ramos, Catli, Rizada
- Gilas center Rabeh Al-Husseini and PBA veteran Dennis Espino figured in many one-on-one battles during the game
- If Rabeh was the best big man in the UAAP in 2008-2009, Dennis was the best big man in the UAAP in 1993.
- Rabeh has back-to-back titles with Ateneo in 2008-2009
- Dennis, however, won the UAAP title with UST in 1993 via a historic sweep
- Espino had solid 4th quarter with 10 points
- Larry Rodriguez played another quiet but highly-efficient game off-the-bench for Coca-Cola
- Rodriguez also got the 5th and last foul of Giles
- Alex Cabagnot had 5 blocks!
- Coca Cola played minus Asi Taulava, Chris Ross, Ken Bono, Dale Singson and Ricky Calimag
- Japeth Aguilar looked good driving strong to the basket. He scored 11 points in the 2nd half.
- Chris Tiu: “We were able to execute our offense and did a better job rebounding compared to our last 3 games.” MH
With the way Smart Gilas played last Friday, I think it’s time the PBA allows Toroman’s team to play as a regular team like the NCC squad of Ron Jacobs in the ’80s that went on to shame the pros by winning a PBA title.
This will help the amateurs learn from the pros and enable Toroman’s boys to become better players if they do turn pro in three years’ time. Hector Calma, Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim went through the NCC route before becoming PBA stars.