Gilas falls anew in Dubai Invitational

After starting the Dubai Invitational Basketball Tournament with a come-from-behind win over Mouttahed Tripoli, the Philippine men's national basketball team have since dropped their last two games, the latest being a 75-65 defeat at the hands of Jordanian team Sporting Aramex, 75-65, Monday (early Tuesday, PHL time) at the Al Ahli gym in Dubai.

Tried hard, but Dorsey & Bangura just 2 good, 2 experienced for our kids. But we fought til d end.Now we need 2 beat Sagesse 4 d final 4.

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) January 14, 2013

Gilas trailed for nearly the entire game, although things were not as out of hand as their 97-82 defeat to Dubai club Al Ahli.

Quarterfinal game vs Sagesse of Lebanon on Thurs, time TBA.

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) January 14, 2013

My job here is to mold d future while prep for Aug, & w Greg, Matt, Garvo, Kevin, RR, Ronald, Justin -- Phil intl hoops' future is rosy

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) January 14, 2013

At the end of the classification round, Gilas wound up with a 1-2 record, and draw Beirut team Sagesse (1-1) in the crossover quarterfinals, Wednesday (early Thursday, PHL time). A win would have seeded the Philippines against the national squad of the UAE.

The Philippines' opponents in this game, Sporting Aramex, booked an automatic trip to the semifinals, due to their 2-1 record and a superior quotient over the other 2-1 team in the group, Al Ahli. - AMD, GMA News