FIBA Cup: Kazakhstan gives RP 2nd loss, 75-66

Games Today (All times local - Tehran) 4:15 p.m. - Iran vs. Kazakhstan 6:30 p.m. - Lebanon vs. India 8:45 p.m. - Philippines vs. Syria The San Miguel RP Team suffered its second defeat in as many games Monday night in the 18th FIBA Asia Champions Cup as the Nationals absorbed a 75-66 beating from Kazakhstan's Astana Tigers at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran, Iran. But coach Chot Reyes was quick in reminding his wards that the ultimate purpose of the squad is not in the current tournament but in next week's Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) tilt and July's Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) Asia championship, the qualifier for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "What is important is for us to continue to play together, not to abandon each other and what we're trying to build," Reyes said in a statement on Tuesday. "All of these are part of our learning process and these games will help us down the road so we have to deal with it, continue to get better and play as a team." And Reyes admitted that he is also learning from the losses in the tournament: "Kaya nga I'm playing everybody, to try and get the right combinations that will be put to use later din." The RP team will next face Syria's Aj-Jalaa at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday (1:15 a.m. Wednesday, Manila time) Scores Kazakhstan (75): Issakov 25, Shpekht 15, Smirnov 13, Yargaliyev 7, Biryulin 5, Panomarev 4, Tyutyunik 3, Skornyakov 2, Dzorhanov 1, Voyeikov 0. San Miguel-RP (66): Seigle 21, Caguioa 18, Villanueva 8, Taulava 6, Raymundo 6, Ritualo 3, Alapag 2, Hontiveros 2, Helterbrand 0, De Ocampo 0, De la Cruz 0, Pennisi 0. Quarter scores: 14-16; 33-27; 55-45; 75-66 Standings Group A Lebanon 1-0 Qatar 1-1 India 0-1 Group B Iran 2-0 Syria 2-0 Kazakhstan 2-1 Philippines 0-2 Bahrain 0-2

- GMANews.TV