MANILA, Philippines – During the second Doha Invitational Cup, which took place at the Qatar University Sports and Events Complex early on Sunday morning (Manila time), Gilas Pilipinas was defeated by Lebanon by a score of 75-54. It is especially noteworthy that Lebanon’s performance in the fourth quarter was very remarkable.

They were able to break away from a hotly contested struggle and win 65-50 thanks to the four players Jad Khalil, James Majok, Gerard Hadidian, and Karim Zeinoun. They outgunned the Filipinos in a blistering 14-2 run in the opening five minutes of the final quarter, which allowed them to win.

Following a follow-up basket by AJ Edu, Gilas was within 51-50 when the Cedars made their move and put on the telling separation from which the Philippines never recovered. This was the moment when the Cedars made their move.

In the fourth quarter, Lebanon scored 24-6 more points than Gilas did.

In spite of the fact that Justine Brownlee scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Gilas, the team was unable to capitalize on her tremendous performance.

However, even the seasoned naturalized player turned completely ice cold during that vital stretch in the fourth quarter, which ultimately resulted in Gilas suffering its first setback in the three-game friendly match that would come to a finish early on Monday morning (Manila time).

Gilas Pilipinas staged a remarkable comeback to achieve a hard-earned victory over Qatar in their opening game, which they won 74-71. This triumph came despite the fact that they were playing behind by as much as 11 points in the third quarter. The national team showed resiliency and determination, overcoming the deficit with disciplined execution and vital contributions from numerous players. There were multiple players who made significant contributions.

Calvin Oftana was the only local player to finish with a score of ten points for Gilas, making him the only player to reach double figures. In the meantime, Scottie Thompson was an integral part of the team, providing seven points and leading the team in rebounds with eleven. Because of his efforts on the boards, Gilas was able to get additional possessions, which contributed to the continuation of their late-game rally.

Qatar, on the other hand, had a number of players that stood out exceptionally well. Hadidian started the game with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Majok and Zeinoun combined for 25 points and 16 rebounds. Hadidian was the leader of the team. For the entirety of the game, their contributions kept Qatar in a competitive position. Khalil also had a huge impact, finishing with 18 points, including three three-pointers that were successful out of seven attempts.

Lebanon, on the other hand, rebounded back from an opening-night loss to Egypt with an 82-70 triumph, bringing their record tied at 1-1. This was accomplished despite the fact that Lebanon was missing two of its important players, namely Wael Arakji and Omari Spellman. In spite of the fact that the absence of Arakji and Spellman presented a hurdle, Lebanon was able to overcome the obstacle and demonstrate their depth as a team.

In addition to demonstrating Gilas Pilipinas’ capacity to rally under duress and win games that were closely contested, the victory serves as a powerful opening statement for the team’s campaign. As they move forward, the squad will make it their goal to continue their pursuit of success on the world scene by building on the momentum they have already established.

Scores at the end of the match

Lebanon with 75 points for the win

Individual scores:  Hadidian 18, Khalil 18, Zeinoun 13, Majok 12, Mezher 8, Rtail 4, Makhlouf 2, Khoueiry 0, Samaha 0, Moussa 0

Philippines with 54 points

Individual scores: Brownlee 21, Oftana 10, Thompson 7, Edu 6, Ramos 5, Fajardo 2, Newsome 1, Quiambao 1, Perez 1, Tamayo 0, Amos 0, Malonzo 0.

Scores per quarter

13-12, 26-28, 51-48, 75-54.