By JONAS TERRADO
THE Philippines awoke from a first half slumber caused by the rare sequence of having to play in front of mostly empty seats last night and completed a 17-point comeback by defeating Qatar, 92-81, to close out the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Scottie Thompson provided the spark early in the third with his all-around play while Barangay Ginebra San Miguel teammate Japeth Aguilar benefited from a much-improved offensive plays in the second half to give coach Yeng Guiao a victory in his second game as national coach.
Thompson played only 13 minutes but his three points, six rebounds and two assists surely left a mark in the victory that kept the Philippines in third place in Group F with a 5-3 record, one off Japan which earlier in the day stunned Iran with a 70-56 triumph in Tokyo.
Aguilar and Alex Cabagnot had 16 points apiece, Stanley Pringle contributed 13 points and Beau Belga added 11 for the Filipino dribblers whose homecourt advantage was lessened with the atmosphere of the match being played behind closed-doors as punishment for the July 2 brawl between the national team and Australia.
The repercussions of that incident at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan placed the country under probationary status. But with the match relatively peaceful, FIBA may let the Philippines hold its next home game in November in front of the paying public.
About 220 people composed of VIPs, non-playing members of both teams, officials from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and FIBA and accredited mediamen were on hand to witness the rare occasion.
Qatar dropped to 2-5.
IRAN LOSES
Meantime, Japan streaked to its third win by drubbing Iran, 70-56, at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
PHILIPPINES 92 – Aguilar 16, Cabagnot 16, Pringle 13, Belga 11, Lee 8, Wright 6, Lassiter 5, Sangalang 5, Erram 4, Thompson 3, Taulava 3, Norwood 2.
QATAR 81 – Mohammed MY 26, Al-Rayes 17, Ngombo 17, Khalid 10, Mohammed MH 4, Abdelbaset 3, Gueye 3, Abdelhaleem 1, Avdic 0, Lashin 0.
Quarters: 15-26; 39-52; 67-64; 92-81.
