PHI/JPN - Philippines survive classic, enter race to London

WUHAN (FIBA Asia Championship) - Another team entered the gold medal race at the FIBA Asia Championship on Tuesday night, as the Philippinesprevailed 83-76 over the previously undefeatedJapan in the game of the tournament to date.
               

Swingmen Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz were originally ruled ineligible for the tournament, but after an appeal were reinstated in time for the Second Round, reinvigorating the team with their physical defence that eventually wore Japan down, and giving the Philippines genuine hopes of medal.


Philippines centre Marcus Douthit led the way in dominant fashion with 25 points and 18 rebounds, while Lassiter and Jim Alapag each scored 15. Centre Joji Takeuchi had 22 points and 8 rebounds for Japan.

Douthit was delighted after the game. "That win is huge!" he said excitedly. "That gives us an easier path to the semi finals. We'll let other teams take the high road, we'll take the low road and hopefully we'll end up there in the end."

The Philippines jumped out to a quick start with Douthit dominating the boards andMarnel Baracael and Kelly Williams scoring eight quick points between them for an 8-2 lead, but Japan came right back at them.

After clawing back the margin slowly, Japan connected on three straight triple bridging quarter time to go ahead 26-18. When Takeki Shonaki hit a three-pointer of his own four minutes into the second term the score was 31-23.

The Philippines answered, a sweet Chris Tiu-Lassiter fast break cutting the gap back to two points. But Koki Takeuchi responded immediately with a long range bomb, and when Tomoo Amino nailed a three from the corner the margin was back out to eight points just before half time.

A 10-0 run in the third quarter, capped by an off-balance Lassiter three-pointer gave the Philippines a 46-43 lead with 5:30 to play in the third period, and they finished the term with a stunning 8-0 run in 1:30 to claim the ascendency.

Japan closed to within five in the final term, but a three-pointer from Alapag and four straight points from Douthit, including a tip jam that brought the crowd to their feet, had the margin at 13 points and the contest appeared over.

Takeuchi didn't think so however, scoring eight points in 70 seconds to bring the margin back to six. When he blew past Douthit it looked as if victory was possible for Japan, but he missed the easy reverse lay-up and the Philippines would hold on from the free throw line.