Smart Gilas-Pilipinas played cohesively all game long to wallop Qatar, 69-52, Thursday night in the first of three tune-up games serving as part of its preparation for next week's FIBA-Asia Championship For Men in Wuhan, China.
The Nationals raced to an early 21-6 lead in the opening quarter and never looked back from there, cruising to the convincing win fashioned out before a modest crowd at The Arena in San Juan City.
Jimmy Alapag showed the way for the team with 11 points while Ranidel de Ocampo added nine as the two Talk 'N Text stalwarts slowly squeeze their way into coach Rajko Toroman's system just barely a week after formally joining the team.
"Practice again (Friday) to continue to build and improve our chemistry," said Gilas assistant coach Charles Tiu. "But we still can improve."
Naturalized player Marcus Douthit hardly flexed his muscle inside and finished with eight rebounds while pro-bound Marcio Lassiter had an all-around game of eight points, five rebounds, and six assists for the Nationals.
The Qataris, however, played minus star player Tanguy Ngombo and Chauncey Leslie. Ngombo is the first Qatari player to be selected in the NBA Draft after he was selected 57th overall by the Dallas Mavericks last June.
Gilas held the visitors to a 27 percent field goal shooting after three quarters and led, 57-32, entering the fourth.
The Nationals will play Jordan next on Saturday, before capping the exhibition series by playing the Qataris again on Sunday.
The team leaves for Wuhan on Tuesday for the September 15 to 25 tournament, the Asian qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics. — JVP, GMA News
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