NBA stars win close game vs Gilas

MANILA, Philippines - The stars of the National Basketball Association (NBA) will leave the Philippines with a 2-0 win-loss record against a PBA selection and the Smart Gilas Pilipinas, but not before the national team gave them a scare in their 2nd exhibition game.

The Kobe Bryant-led NBA stars hammered out a close 98-89 victory over Smart Gilas.

Smart Gilas went down in the 1st half and early in the 2nd half, but came roaring back with a strong 4th quarter run.

JV Casio sparked the national team's 4th quarter run as he scored 11 points in the period.

Smart Gilas, however, ran out of time and were unable to catch-up to the NBA stars.

Naturalized center Marcus Douthit brought Gilas within 10 points with a monster put-back slam with 4:36 remaining.

NBA rookie Derrick Williams then scored on a circus lay-up to push the lead back to 12, but Marcio Lassiter made 2 charities to once again bring the lead down to 10.

Derek Fisher later made 2 free throws, and JaVale McGee and Williams put on a dunking exhibition to end the game for the NBA stars.

The 2nd exhibition game against Gilas was more competitive than the one the NBA stars played against the PBA All-Stars, as the national team showed impressive teamwork, especially in the latter parts of the ball game.

"This team is prepared, they run plays," said Chris Paul during a break in the 4th quarter. "They're really good."

The NBA stars had led by as much as 22 points, early in the 3rd quarter.

By the 3rd period, it was clear that the visitors were taking the nationals seriously, as Bryant and Kevin Durant were seen posting up against their smaller defenders instead of settling for jumpshots.

Gilas was able to bring the lead down to 14 points after Hontiveros made a trifecta, 74-60. Fisher hit a 3-pointer, however, and McGee scored on an alley-oop to put the NBA stars back up by 19, 79-60, going into the last period.

In the 1st half, the NBA stars were able to establish an early lead as they waxed hot from the perimeter.

Bryant had 7 straight points for the NBA stars early in the 1st quarter, and Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings ended the opening period with 4 straight points to put his team up 28-16.

The 2nd quarter saw Hontiveros drill back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to 8, 34-26.

A few possessions later, Marco Lassiter swished in a trifecta of his own and the lead was down to 7, 38-31.

The NBA stars later came back with a vengeance. McGee sparked a 7-0 run with an alley-oop jam off a feed from Bryant.

Evans once again ended the quarter strong for the NBA stars, as his lay-up beat the halftime buzzer.

Smart Gilas was down 55-37 going into the halftime break.

Nonetheless, the national team was determined to come back in the 2nd half and just came short of pulling a tremendous upset.

"It's been a tremendous honor for all of us to play in front of you wonderful fans," Bryant said after the game.

Highlights

Although the 2nd exhibition game was a low-scoring affair, it had its share of highlights.

It was the national team's Japeth Aguilar who got the highlight reel rolling with a two-handed posterization of Durant that brought the Filipino fans to their feet.

Durant, however, countered a few possessions later with a put-back slam of his own.

Harden and Evans also got into the high-fly act with breakaway dunks, and McGee would once again wow the crowd with numerous jams throughout the game.

After the game, the NBA stars gave the fans one more treat as they gave away their shoes to the crowd.

They also assured the Filipinos that they would be willing to come back to the Philippines for another game.

"I'm looking forward to coming back," said Durant.

"I love you, I can't wait until the next time I get back here," Bryant added.

Camille Narredo, ABs-CBN News