SAN Fernando, Pampanga – A snappier Gilas Pilipinas side showed up and vented its ire on Malaysia, 96-61, on Thursday night to gain steam heading into the Fiba U16 Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers title game at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention.
Coming off their closest win of the tournament, a nine-point win over Indonesia, the teenage Filipino dribblers came in sharper and avoided defensive lapses from the previous game to roll past the Malaysians.
READ: Tenorio doesn't mind seeing Gilas Youth put to a test by Indonesia
Batang Gilas broke free from a 7-all score halfway through the first quarter with 21-5 run to end the period with a 28-12 lead. They were on cruise control after that.
The blowout victory completed Gilas Youth’s sweep of the elimination round and the hold of the top spot heading into the finale against second-running Indonesia.
Regardless of the result, Gilas and Indonesia have already secured spots to the Fiba U16 Asia Cup main competition in August in Mongolia.
“I just really have to be hard on the boys, kasi nawawala kami dun sa disiplina at system namin,” National youth coach LA Tenorio said.
“Medyo nagkakanya-kanya kami because of thinking na kayang-kaya yung kalaban. I impart to them to always be focused sa mga ginagawa namin.”
Travis Pascual and Jeremiah Antolin showed the way for the Pinoy youth squad with 15 points apiece off the bench. Pascual completed an all-around game with five assists, and four boards, while Antolin made all but two of his nine shots and added four rebounds and one steal.
Prince Cariño chipped in 13 points also for the second unit, which tallied 58 of the team’s total output. He finished with a double-double with 11 boards on top of two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Everaigne Cruz led the starters with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals, and three blocks, while Jolo Pascual and Jhello Lumague were the other two players who scored in twin digits with 10 points each.
Gilas Youth also tightened its defensive screws, forcing Malaysia to 27 turnovers that resulted into 41 points off errors.
Cameron Jeremie Pagbe Tan was one of only two Malaysian players who scored in double digits with 16 points.
Malaysia ended the eliminations with a 2-3 record and will face Thailand (3-2) in the battle for third and last spot to the main competition.
The scores:
PHILIPPINES 96 – T. Pascual 15, Antolin 15, Cruz 14, Cariño 13, J. Pascual 10, Lumague 10, Miranda 7, Restificar 4, Tan-Chi 2, Delos Reyes 2, Cabanero 2, Hallare 2
MALAYSIA 61 – Tan 16, Sing 10, San 8, Gow 8, Rohit 7, Yang 3, Lee 3, Lim 2, Sham 2, Chen 2, Tai 0
Quarters: 28-12, 55-29, 75-46, 96-61
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