GILAS Pilipinas Youth bowed out of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2024 after an 85-61 loss to Japan on Friday in Amman, Jordan.
The Nationals trailing by nine, 40-31, at the half and by six, 53-47, late in the third quarter, but couldn't keep up the rest of the way as the Japanese shifted gear to clinch their place in the quarfinal phase.
The Philippines missed the quarterfinals of the U18 tournament for the first time since 2006, when the country didn’t participate owing to a FIBA suspension because of a dispute among the country’s basketball stakeholders.
In 2018, the Philippines placed fourth to gain a spot in the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.
It didn’t help that Gilas U18 missed the services of high-scoring guard Andy Gemao, who suffered a fracture in his finger days before the tournament.
Mark Esperanza had 16 points and six assists to lead Batang Gilas, and John Earl Medina added 11 points, but the team was outrebounded, 43-30, while also committing 15 turnovers.
Leon Watanabe had 15 points on an efficient 6-of-10 from the field, and added six rebounds for Japan in the 24-point win.
Riku Segawa posted 13 points, three rebounds, and four assists for the Japanese side.
The scores:
Japan 85 – Watanabe 15, Segawa 13, Naito 10, Wada 8, Sugeno 7, Togaeri 7, Shiranti 7, Fukasawa 5, Bendict 5, Takata 4, Sembo 4, Shimizu 0.
Philippines 61 – Esperanza 16, Medina 11, Cabonilas 8, Perez 8, Burgos 5, Esteban 5, Manding 3, Lorenzo 3, Figueroa 2, Velasquez 0, Ludovice 0, Santos 0.
Quarters: 23-19; 40-31; 64-50; 85-61.
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