A heart-breaking loss
SAN MIGUEL-Team Pilipinas ran into a maze of troubles in the endgame and Lebanon sneaked in from behind to score a 65-62 victory in the 29th Jones Cup at the SinJhuang Gym in Taipeh yesterday.
It was a bitter loss for the Filipinos who controlled the game for 39 minutes only to lose steam in the final 60 seconds to give the Lebanese their second straight win.
The Nationals, who led by as much as 10 points in the early goings, were leading 62-56 with only 2:22 left but shot blanks from there compounded by a questionable double-dribbling violation called on Mark Caguioa with 29 seconds left and the Nationals leading, 62-61.
Two free throws by Fadi El Khatib and a triple by Omar El Turk put the Lebanese to within a point, 62-61, exactly a minute to go. After Khatib blocked an undergoal stab by Asi Taulava, he lost the ball to the sideline giving San Miguel-Team Pilipinas a chance to pad on the slim lead.
But the Nationals wasted this as the referee called the dribbling violation by Caguioa.
A split by Basem Bala off Gabe Norwood, 17.8 ticks left, finally sent the Lebanese tying the game for the first time.
The Filipinos then wasted the opportunity to regain the lead as Caguioa missed on a hurried jumper with still five seconds left, sending the Lebanese scooting downcourt and Rony Fahed throwing a hail mary shot from the arch which banked in for the winning trey.
