THE Batang Gilas Pilipinas cagers have vowed to salvage a measure of pride and clinch fifth place in the 2015 Fiba-Asia Under-16 Championship when they play Lebanon on Saturday at the Britama Arena in Jakarta.
Head coach Mike Oliver said the Under-16 squad wants to finish on a high in a tournament marked by a historic win over China in the eliminations and the disappointment of a shock exit at the quarterfinal stage at the hands of Japan.
“We all want to end the tournament on a high note and a get the fifth spot,” said Oliver, hours after an 81-46 win over Thailand set Batang Gilas up for a battle for fifth place with Lebanon, which beat Kuwait, 79-56.
Oliver was left to rue a poor start to the knockout game against a hot-shooting Japan side which left Batang Gilas with a mountain to climb after the first quarter, 9-23.
Leading the charge for Japan in the quarterfinal match was Yudai Nishida, who scored 20 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range in a big 73-66 victory over the Philippines.
“Bad start and most of our shots were not falling even (from) point blank (range),” Oliver said. “Japan played almost a perfect game. I don’t remember them missing a lot of shots.”
But Oliver credited his wards for their gallant stand in the fourth quarter when they outscored Japan, 21-10, in a late push.
“All are opponents are bigger and faster than us. It’s only China that is stronger, taller, and a bit slower compared to most of the teams because their offense starts in the post,” said Oliver.
“As a team, the Batang Gilas knows it has to learn from it,” added team manager Andrew Teh.
Though already out of contention for one of three slots for the Fiba Under-17 Championship next year, Oliver said the Batang Gilas cagers will play with a lot of pride in the final match against Lebanon.
“We just have to still play our best against Lebanon and clinch fifth place,” added Teh.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
