Smart Gilas Pilipinas used a big third-quarter scoring run to cruise past Hoops Lebanon, 86-69, Wednesday night to enter the semifinals of the 22nd Dubai International Basketball Tournament at the Al Ahli Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Gilas hopes to avenge its 91-89 loss to Al Wahda in the elimination round when they face the Syrian club team in a semifinal match on Friday night.

Al Wahda earned a semis berth after posting a 100-81 win over the UAE National team in another quarterfinal match.

Finding their shooting touch in the third, the Gilas crew of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman dropped a 20-6 bomb to turn a 38-37 halftime lead into a 58-43 advantage midway in the period.

That offensive onslaught was alternately executed by Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Aldrech Ramos, Mark Baracael and Marcio Lassiter. Smart Gilas' stifling defense in the second half then foiled Lebanon’s attempts to mount a rally.

Asi Taulava (right) tries to score against two Lebanese players in their game in the 22nd Dubai International Basketball Tournament. Gabriel John Rimando
Egged on by a predominantly Filipino crowd composed mostly of migrant workers, Smart Gilas never let up in the final period and even erected an 84-62 advantage with two minutes left in the game.

Baracael paced the Filipinos' offensive with 16 points, while 6-foot-10 American center Marcus Douthit, who is awaiting President Noynoy Aquino’s signature for his naturalization papers, added 13 markers aside from taking turns with Asi Taulava in providing the interior defense for the Philippine developmental squad.

Casio and Tiu tallied 12 markers each, while Taulava, who remains a crowd favorite, netted nine points.

American imports Calvin Cage and William Byrd had 24 and 15 points apiece for Lebanon.

Douthit was temporarily benched early in the game when he suffered an accidental cut from a wayward elbow by a Hoops player. He returned in the second period and Gilas started to pull away for a 27-19 lead.

But Lebanon coach Facundo Disrachi quickly called a timeout to stop Gilas’ momentum. The Lebanese had their own scoring run and kept the game close at the turn.

JVP, KY, GMANews.TV