
by Chris Tiu | chris-tiu.blogspot.com
Competition is even tougher this year since almost all teams are fielding in their national teams plus 2 imports. Last year in Jakarta, we finished 5th.
With our current lineup, our goal is to make it to the semis. Then take it from there. Iran (Mahram) is fielding their national team with the usual two imports, Jackson Vroman (6'10) and Loren Woods (7'1), both former NBA players.
Lebanon (Al Riyadi) is also fielding in its national players, including Fadi El Khatib, plus 2 imports Nate Johnson and CJ Giles. Same goes for Qatar.
Kazakhstan is fielding its national team composed of players who participated in Tokoshima in 2007 & finished 4th place.
On our part, we're shorthanded right now because we're missing JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter & JR Cawaling in our lineup due to injuries. JV, who was the best point guard of the tournament in Dubai, provides stability in the team as our main PG. We will miss his ability to score & create plays. RJ Jazul, who is a natural shooting guard, will have to step up & play the point position.
I think i will have to play PG sometimes as well. Without Marcio, we will be losing some toughness inside the court bec of his physicality and aggressivity on both ends of the floor. He doesn't hesitate to dive on the ground for loose balls and that can be contagious.
JR Cawaling is a very skilled & creative player, too bad his knee is really bothering him. Instead, Rey Guevarra, my roommate, was chosen to be part of the 12-man lineup since this is FIBA sanctioned tournament. Both JV & JR are with us here in Qatar, while Marcio is back home in Manila doing therapy.
On the other hand, Chris Lutz arrived in Manila on Tuesday & is part of the 12-man lineup. He plays the position 2 & 3. He's very skilled, athletic and smart. But 2 days of practice is definitely not enough to learn the system of Coach Rajko thoroughly. He's still familiarizing himself w/ the very complicated plays.
For sure he will provide a huge lift once he adapts himself to the system & the team. We also have a Serbian import, Milan, who has been practicing w/ us for about a week & a half now. He stands around 6'9 but is not the most athletic & quickest player. He has a decent middle range though & has a wide body to bang w/ the opposing bigs.
Let's see how we'll fare in this tournament. It will be very very tough so I ask for all your prayers for us to play our A games and be injury-free. If you happen to live here in Doha, please come and watch the games!
I believe they purposely scheduled Smart Gilas games at 8pm to draw the Filipino crowd here, which has certainly infiltrated the scarce population of Qatar.
Your presence truly means a lot! Let's overwhelm the opposing teams by having the largest gallery! GO PILIPINAS!
- Chris Tiu
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Group A: Iran (Mahram), Philippines (Smart Gilas), Kazakhstan (Astana Tigers), Iraq (Duhok), Qatar (Al Rayyan)
Group B: Lebanon (Al Riyadi), Jordan (ASU), Syria (Al Jalaa), Saudi Arabia (Al Hilal), UAE (Al Nasr)
Venue: Al Gharrafa Indoor Hall (Al Gharrafa Sports Complex)
Ticket Price: QAR 10
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RP Smart Gilas Game Schedule: Elimination Round
Sun (05/23): Doha 6pm - Philippines vs Qatar (11pm Manila)
Mon (05/24): Doha 8pm - Philippines vs Kazakhstan (1am Manila, 05/25)
Tues (05/25): Doha 8pm - Philippines vs Iran (1am Manila, 05/26)
Wed (05/26): Doha 8pm - Philippines vs Iraq (1am Manila, 05/27)
*****
SMART GILAS 12-man LINEUP for FIBA Asia Champions Cup:
Mark Barroca, RJ Jazul, Chris Tiu, Dylan Ababou, Rey Guevarra, Chris Lutz, Mac Baracael, Aldrech Ramos, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Ballesteros, Greg Slaughter & Milan Vucicevic
*****
Games Saturday (Al-Gharafa Stadium, Doha)
2 p.m. — Astana Tigers-Kazakhstan vs Mahram-Iran
4 p.m. — Al Jalaa-Syria vs Al-Riyadi-Lebanon
6 p.m. — Al Rayyan-Qatar vs Duhok-Iraq
8 p.m. — Al Nasr-UAE vs Al-Hilal-Saudi Arabia
Games Sunday (Al-Gharafa Stadium, Doha)
2 p.m. — ASU-Jordan vs Al Nasr-UAE
4 p.m. — Duhok-Iraq vs Astana Tigers-Kazakhstan
6 p.m. (11pm Manila) — Smart-Gilas Philippines vs Al Rayyan-Qatar
8 p.m. —Al-Hilal-Saudi Arabia vs Al Jalaa-Syria
note: local time in Doha, Qatar (Manila is 5 hours ahead of Doha)
*****
(Smart Gilas-Pilipinas )
Local TV Broadcast: NO
Live Scoring: YES
Live Update: YES
Live Play by Play: YES
Live Game Statistics: YES
Live Streaming: TBA (to be announced)
www.SmartGilas.com & www.SmartGilas.net
Toolbar.TeamPilipinas.info
SMART GILAS LATEST UPDATES:
[www.SmartGilas.com]
[www.SmartGilas.net]

nice!! go go gilas!!!
great sana may free live streaming.. pro kung wala ok naman pala atleast may live scoring and play by play ulit d2..
pls paki reactivate po ng chatroom.. thnx
ang liit natin pero kayang kaya nga gilas. go go go gilas. what will be the channel covering all games of gilas
Where is Rabeh?
Pinagdadasal namin ang tagumpay ninyo hanggang sa huli... Feel the spirit of the filipino crowd all over the World who are supporting you all the way..Chris Tiu and the rest of the Smart Gilas, laban kung laban..GO Go Pilipinas!!!~Suilenrock
goodluck gilas!!!!hope greg slaughter will show us his new and highly transformed self !!!
Keep an eye to your inconsistencies and weaknesses... Every chance and strength is a drop of hope.. every hazard is a challenge!!!! Go Smart Gilas!
Chris Tui... Please update us the website if there is a LIVE STREAMING we're excited to watch the roaring crowd and the flying Philippine flag inside the stadium with your 3pts shooting.. transistion plays.. fast breaking.. good execution.. team work plays.. good assist.. 100% free throws.. slashing to break the opponent defense.. Gregy Boy/Milan- dunking and shot blocking defense. Talunin natin sila sa fighting spirit, hangin at lakas ng tuhod.
>>Assistment:
1. Against QATAR = we win by 4-6 points
2. Against KAZAKHTAN = have a good fight since most of their players and ourvplayers have the same age level. We win in a crucial attempt.
3. Against IRAN = with their international experiences in olympic they have the edge against us. Our eagerness is the factor to win against theme shows a challenge to the players to win(MAKABAWI last previous games against theme nakarami na sila sa atin). We win come from behind situation due to they run out of gas(kapusin sila ng hangin)
4. Against IRAQ = unpredictable line-up don't over confedence, we win by 10-15 points
.... Be ready.. don't intimedate and nevermind who they are just play good basketball and focus to the game.
PHILIPPINE!!.... PHILIPPINES!!....
GOOD LUCK!!
WE WILL BE THERE IN GHARAFA STADIUM TO SUPPORT YOU, SMART GILAS!!! GO TEAM GO.. PILIPINAS, AHO!!!
Pakipalit naman ng home page picture. Yung ibang insperational photos naman tulad ng pictures nina Caloy Loyzaga or the NCC team picture. Tsaka nalang ibalik pagkatapos ng Doha event.
all ODDS are against us but I am confident that Gilas will fight back like a lion. Go Gilas! Win or lose, team we choose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO GILAS asahan mo kami chris tui lahat ng laban nyo dito sa qatar puno ang gharrafa stadium, namigay na kami ng sked at invitation sa filipino community here. 100% ang suporta namin! mabuhay ang pilipinas...
enuj otyed
good luck gilas!!! go for the win!!! tnx c tiu for some info and updates!!!
Manonood kami lahat dito sa Doha sigurado yan!!!! Go smart gilas
parang mas exited pa ako kesa sa team mismo... kaya nyo yan... ang yayabang ng pba teams... sana lumaban sa pba yung gilas... yung tipong hanggang finals... para makita natin kung sino talaga magaling na team... go go go gilas... partida kulang pa line-up nyo kasi may injury yung iba... PARTIDA yun hindi disadvantage...
Good Luck Gilas!! Go Team Pilipinas!!!! Few kabayan are travelling from Dubai to watch & support SG...
Ric O.(Dubai)
Live Streaming: TBA (to be announced)
I hope we will have a live streaming for all of the games of Smart-Gilas.. Coz before Powerade Pilipinas was air in our local tv but now why isnt not airing on TV? Please Live Streaming...
go team pilipinas sana malayo marating nyo
To all the the Filipino around the world. Support our NT (GILAS) for their tourney.. Let's back them up coz it will help them to boost their confidence and play with all of their heart to bring glory in our country.. God bless PILIPINAS..
gilas has the support of PBQ here (Pinoy Basketball Qatar) w/c is a member of the Qatar NAtional Olympic Committee. Qataris has high regards to filipinos here in Qatar, specially w/ coach rajko at helm, so hindi tayo maargabyado dito in terms of treatment in and out of the game. hindi gaya ng experience ng PBA & chot reyes backed national team. they acted like primadonna ( w/c they dont have the right since they are just ordinary players against the bigwigs of Asia) to be honest and they actuallyy deserved that garbage treatment!!
Lufet lalaro na ang mga LETRAN BOYS:
RJ Jazul and Rey Guevarra! TIME to SHINE!
GUARDS
1.) Chris Tiu
2.) RJ Jazul
3.) Rey Guevarra
4.) Dylan Ababou
5.) Mac Baracael
6.) Chris Lutz
THE FILIPINO CROWD IS THE 6TH MAN IN THE COURT SO PLEASE WE NEED YOU ALL OFW IN QATAR TO WATCH IN THE STADIUM AND SUPPORT OUR NATIONAL TEAM AND FOREMOST OF YOUR PRAYERS.
WE WILL GIVE THEM (PLAYERS) AN INSPIRATION ON THIS REAL WAR FOR THE SAKE OF OUR FLAG AND COUNTRY!
GO!GO!GO! OUR NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS! YOU ARE THE REAL WARRIORS AND A FIGHTERS!
KAYO ANG TUNAY NA LAHI NI LAPU-LAPU AT ANDRES BONIFACIO. LABAN KUNG LABAN AT PATAYAN KUNG PATAYAN!
MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!!!
play defense and don't hesitate to take a shot!.
Hei Pilipinas Smart-GILAS! BEAT QATAR TOMORROW! and in addition, BEAT IRAN! We can do that! go!go!go!
sa lineup ng pilipinas,kita natin na kaya nilang sumabay sa ibang teams.ang importante na lang ay kung aling team ang mas matindi ang kagustuhan nilang manalo.hanggang hindi pa tapos ang laro,laban lang.
Smart-Gilas! Do your best to improve your 5th-place finish! Go! Go! Go! But if you did not make it, remember that you almost had it all. Ang korny ng kanta ko no? Heheh :D
To Greg and Japeth good luck to you. Japeth, wag mong pansinin yung mga talangka na yun. We still believe in you.
Lenore-Chan/philstar.com
Bkt hndi nakasama c Rabeh Al-Hussaini???
WE BELIEVE!!!!!! GOD WILL BE OUR STRENGTH..... GO PILIPINAS...GO GO GO SMARTGILAS
papakita ba xa tv..
I forgot. Kung gusto mong maglaro para sa bansa Japeth, dapat mag-adjust ka para sa kanila, hindi ang nga teammates mo at lalao na yung coach mo ang mag-aadjust sa iyo. Salamat.
Lenore-Chan/philstar.com
ang laro ba ngayung lingo ng 11pm
If your in MED, Alkass TV have been televised it?
go smart gillas i am a ojt from sports radio DZSR sana manalo kayo coz were always praying for the best of you guys., enjoy and gudluck!