IT’S Team USA’s turn to pounce on a hapless Gilas Pilipinas Youth team in the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.
The Philippines was ousted by the US, 141-45, on Wednesday in the round-of-16, and was relegated to the classification phase of the tournament in Istanbul, Turkey.
Koa Peat had 22 points and seven rebounds while Cameron Boozer, the US National High School Player of the Year in 2023, hit 20 points to lead the team's march to the quarterfinals.
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Cameron’s father, former NBA player Carlos Boozer, was at courtside to witness the 96-point blowout win.
Incidentally, Fil-American JJ Mandaquit played in the one-sided contest and had four points and eight assists in 16 minutes of court time.
Team USA was already ahead 43-13 by the end of the first quarter, and by 80-23 at the half. The Americans came just four points short of matching the tournament record for points scored set when they beat China, 146-62, just last Tuesday.
Counting defeats to Lithuania, Spain, and Puerto Rico, the Philippines has now lost four games by an average margin of 65.5 points.
The Philippines will look to salvage its campaign when it plays for the ninth to 16th position in the battle for the final placings.
Joaquin Ludovice had 15 points, and Cletz Amos had 10 points for Gilas Youth.
The scores:
United States 141 – Peat 22, Cam. Boozer 20, Haralson 16, Cenac 14, Holt 14, Cay. Boozer 12, Stokes 12, McCoy 11, Smith 9, Dybantsa 7, Mandaquit 4, Toombs 0.
Philippines 45 – Ludovice 15, Amos 10, Diao 7, Morales 6, Daja 5, Williams 2, Banal 0, Chua 0, Velasquez 0, Arejola 0, Alegre 0, Gomez de Liano 0.
Quarters: 43-13; 80-23; 106-35; 141-45.
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