GILAS Pilipinas Youth is going up against Japan for a spot in the quarterfinals of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in Amman, Jordan.
Jordan walloped Indonesia, 82-59, to secure second place in Group D with a 2-1 win-loss record, with the Philippines taking the third spot with a 1-2 slate, arranging a match-up with Japan, which took second place in Group C.
The qualification to the quarterfinal clash is scheduled on Friday, 9:30 p.m. Manila time.
The Philippines finished third in the group stage with Indonesia serving as its lone victim when Batang Gilas won, 75-48, last Monday.
Gilas Youth dropped a sorry 62-56 loss to Jordan, and was routed by unbeaten New Zealand, 75-58.
A player to watch for Japan is Leon Watanabe, who already played for Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka in the Japan B.League second division, and was once a teammate of Greg Slaughter.
The 6-foot-8 Watanabe is averaging 15.7 points and 8.0 rebounds during the group stage of the tournament.
Riku Segawa is the second leading scorer of Japan with 13.7 seconds.
For Gilas Youth, John Earl Medina is the top scorer with an average of 15.7 after his 30-point effort against New Zealand last Wednesday, followed by Mark Esperanza with 12 a game.
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