TAIPEI: No point guard? That wasn’t a problem for Gilas Pilipinas.

Playing hard without a quarterback and its two leading scorers, Team Philippines on Saturday night showed up an experienced selection from the United States, 78-74, to all but wrap up second place in the Jones Cup championship at the Xinzhuang gymnasium here.

There was nothing really at stake for the intrepid Filipinos but pride, for they took the floor a few minutes after Iran manhandled Spartak Primorye of Russia, 78-54, to win this event for the fifth time in seven years.

And without Terrence Romeo and Jason Castro, it would have been easy for anyone to understand if the Filipinos had chosen to roll over and die just like that.

Instead, Gilas took the initiative early, running at every given opportunity to build leads of as large as 18 points in the third quarter before withstanding a furious fightback by United States crew bannered by former PBA imports.

Gilas coach Tab Baldwin unleashed “The Beast,” Calvin Abueva, who responded with 20 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block in his worthiest performance to date as a national team rookie.

Sonny Thoss also delivered by hitting three straight jumpers from medium range that quelled the last of those American rallies, with the last of those giving the Filipinos a 74-66 lead going into the last 1:23.

Dondon Hontiveros, who broke out against the Wellington Saints of New Zealand on Friday afternoon, again sealed the deal for Gilas, nailing two free throws with 2.3 ticks left as the Filipinos rose to 5-2 overall.

The Philippines, which is expected to close out with an easy win against young Chinese Taipei-B on Sunday, will win runner-up honors for the first time in a long history of participation in the tournament.

Iran, meanwhile, encountered little trouble against the tall and beefy Russians and avoided any complications by winning its last game.

Thoss finished with 13 points like Gary David, even as ex-Purefoods import Marquin Chandler paced the Ameticans with 20 points and 17 rebounds.

In a related development for the Gilas squad, the ball is now in the hands of Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott on whether or not he will grant Jordan Clarkson permission to play for the Philippines for the duration of the Fiba-Asia Championship in China later this month.

This was learned by Arab News also on Saturday after Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas vice-chairman met with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak.

Buss and Kupchak, according to Vargas, has thrown the matter to Scott if the team would be willing to have Clarkson miss Media Day on Sept. 28 and three weeks of training camp in Hawaii which starts the day after.

A piece of good news, though, is that the Lakers have agreed to release Clarkson to Gilas for future big events.

“They (Buss and Kupchak) requested some time to talk to the Lakers coaches,” Vargas said in a text message. “They have no objections for Jordan to play for the national team long term.

“But for Fiba-Asia, we continue (to) discuss availability,” he added.

If Scott doesn’t give Clarkson the green light, the 6-foot-5 point guard will only be able to play for Gilas up until Sept. 27, or before the knockout stages of the Olympic qualifier starts where he is, interestingly enough, needed the most.

The start of the Lakers’ training camp will fall during the quarterfinal, Final Four and gold medal matches.

Vargas also met with Clarkson’s father, Mike, who formally gave his son the blessing to play long-term for the Philippine team.

Jordan, in an earlier statement, had said that he is “all in” for Gilas and that he would like to play as a Filipino up until the 2024 Olympic Games, which the United States is also bidding to host.