Philippines Losses in Semis Game against Iran

We lost with a double digit score against Iran in our semi-finals match minutes ago in the Jones Cup 2011. Coming into the semi-finals, we were placed on the second spot with a 5-2 win-loss score behind unbeaten Korean team. Watching the Smart Gilas Philippine Basketball Team play against Iran tonight was so disappointing because this was the first time I was able to watch them play a full game - and they played badly! We beat Iran in our very first game in the tournament.  

JV Casio was on the injured list so he did not play and early in the 4th quarter, Marc Barocca twisted his left foot ankle and never returned in the game. Very evident in the game were:

• Smart Gilas Team has to find ways to play efficiently as a team without JV Casio
• Iran's Ehdadi wreaked havoc in the center and no one could stop him except for the wonderful block Japeth Aguilar gave him in the latter part of the game
• The worst game for the Philippines came in the semis

Well tomorrow Sunday the Philippine Team will be playing for the Bronze medal against the hometown heroes, Chinese-Taipei Basketball team which we beat in the elimination round. We are not assured of the medal yet --remember the games are held in their own country and expect to get homecourt calls for these Taiwanese players.

Watch the games live at ESPN or AKTV Chanel on free TV or if you are interested, look out for livestreaming video sites for the games in the Jones Cup 2011. 

Go, go, go Philippines!