Dismal debut

A slow start in the opener dragged Gilas Pilipinas down into a must-win situation in its next two games in the 33rd FIBA Asia Cup.

Gilas Pilipinas got rocked by a haymaker of an opening period by Chinese Taipei and played catch-up the rest of the way in a stinging 87-95 loss early Wednesday (Manila time) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The electric partisan Filipino crowd inside the Abdullah Sports City was silenced by the Taiwanese’s torrid shooting, while those watching in the Philippines started their weekday grind with terrible headaches due to lack of sleep, only to catch a flatfooted Gilas rammed once again by its tournament’s third window qualifier tormentor.

“I think, you know, we got punched early and we didn’t punch back,” forward AJ Edu said, summing up Gilas’ disappointing showing in its first game in Group D.

Gilas’ flat start got the team sinking into a 17-point hole in the first quarter that the Filipinos tried but failed to overcome.

Chinese Taipei had all the answers for Gilas’ repeated uprisings to join New Zealand, which beat Iraq, 100-78, at the top of the group.

“Well, obviously, we didn’t play a very good one. Disappointed in the way we played. We got behind early in the game and just played on our heels the whole way,” Gilas head coach Tim Cone said.

Chen Ying-Chung shot the lights out for Chinese Taipei, punishing Gilas with 34 points on 10-of-17 field goal shooting including six triples.

Gilas gave Chinese Taipei a scare midway into the final period with Kevin Quiambao hitting key baskets including a three-pointer that cut its deficit to 80-74.

But naturalized player Justin Brownlee fouled out in the next play and Ying-Chung answered with five straight points to quell Gilas’ desperate comeback attempt.

“It was like we were in panic mode for 40 minutes. And but, you know, if Chinese Taipei continues to play like they did and make the shots that they’re making, then they could be one of the guys that gets a medal,” Cone said.

“Without a doubt, they are playing high level basketball, extremely well coached,” he added.

Brandon Gilbeck had 16 markers and nine rebounds while Lin Ting-Chien and Robert Hinton added 14 each for Chinese Taipei.

The Taiwanese uncorked a 25-6 run in the first period, punctuated by an Adam Hinton floater with two minutes left for a 25-8 advantage.

Brownlee kept Gilas from sinking to a deeper hole with his offense as the Nationals narrowed the gap, 36-32, after AJ Edu converted a layup with 2:34 remaining in the second.

Robert Hinton quickly answered with five points in Chinese Taipei’s 7-0 response to regain control for a nine-point lead at the half.

Brownlee had 19 points and seven rebounds, Quiambao had 17 while Scottie Thompson added 16 markers in a lost cause. Gilas committed 16 turnovers and was whistled for 26 fouls.

The loss put Gilas into a precarious position in its bid to end a four-decade-long gold medal drought in the prestigious continental basketball competition.

This means the Nationals will have to hurdle New Zealand late Thursday (Manila time) and Iraq on Saturday afternoon and hope Chinese Taipei will lose all of its remaining games to gain an outright entry into the quarterfinals.

Gilas can still advance to the next round as the tournament format relegates the second-ranked and third-ranked teams in each of the four groups to knockout playoffs for a place in the Last Eight.