According to the alleged professionals at pprune, they most likely didn't have enough time for that (gear extension takes time, and according to the reports they were at around 900 feet when the problem manifested itself, which - without any power - does translate to: prepare to contact ground ASAP).
They most probably didn't even have time to go through the appropriate checklist. They just did the most reasonable thing achievable in the remaining time which is: try to land the plane as safely as possible.
Is it because they didn't have enough power to lower it or because it was better for landing?