SYR/PHI - Charif, Al Jalaa’s toast of the day

DOHA (21st FIBA Asia Champions Cup): Charif Al Charif’s (in picture above) buzzer-beater capped Al Jalaa’s second half and helped the Syrian team pip Smart Gilas of Philippines 83-81 in the 5-8 classification game on Saturday.







Al Jalaa trailed their South East Asian rivals for the better of the first three quarters. They, however, came to their own at the start of the fourth quarter and held their speedy rivals on a leash.

With the scores level at 81, Dylan Ababou’s attempt for Smart Gilas vent in vain and Garnett Thomson who collected the rebound relayed the ball to Charif up front.

The latter wasted no time in collecting and and releasing the ball in one motion to just about beat the buzzer and earn his team the victory.

Al Jalaa will now play for the fifth place against Kazakhstan’s Astana Tigers.

Smart Gilas Philippines, who finished fifth last year, will play against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal for seventh place.

Scores

Al Jalaa, SYR 83 (Garnett Thomson 23, Micheal Madanly 17, Mhd Charif 13) bt Smart Gilas, PHI 81 (Chris Tiu 17, Marnel Baracel 15, Japeth Aguilar 13). Quarterwise scores: 14-21, 31-42, 57-59.

FIBA Asia