Batang Gilas Pilipinas further solidified their place as Southeast Asia’s best youth team as they clinched the 2017 SEABA Under-16 Championship crown at Malaysia’s expense, 83-62, Thursday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
The Philippines, a team that has won by an average margin of 44.25 points, has now won the gold medal for the fourth straight time since the biennial regional youth cagefest commenced in 2011. The Malaysians, on the other hand, have bagged their third silver medal.
“Siyempre in-expect natin yun kasi 3-0 rin sila. Alam naman natin na maglalaro sila ng best game nila,” said Batang Gilas head coach Mike Oliver, regarding the challenge the Malaysians gave them in the championship match.
6-foot-11 Kai Sotto led the way for Batang Gilas with impressive numbers of 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting to go with 12 rebounds and four blocks. Guard Terrence Fortea also produced 15 markers, 13 from the first half.
Heading into the third canto with a narrow 43-37 lead, Sotto scored seven straight ended by a three-point play to lift Batang Gilas by 10, 50-40, with 7:34 left. Another three-point play by Raven Cortez with 2:05 to go in the frame widened the gap to 13, 63-50.
Batang Gilas then never looked back, even improving their lead to a more favorable one, 77-52, after a 10-0 run ended by Sotto’s charities with 5:41 left to play. Malaysia had a mini run, 79-62, but baskets by Rence Padrigao and Bismarck Lina sealed it for Batang Gilas.
“Fortunately, nung third quarter zero ang three points nila. Nung late fourth quarter na lang sila naka-tira ng three-point shot ulit,” added Oliver, as the poor shooting of the Malaysians, 31 percent in total, helped them take the win.
RC Calimag also produced 15 markers for the Filipinos, while Lina had 13 points on nine shots alongside 10 rebounds and five assists. Cortez also produced 13 points. Padrigao only scored five, but had 11 caroms and six dimes.
Cat-quick guard Teoh Yi Kang anchored the Malaysians with a game-high 19 points on 58.3 percent shooting alongside three rebounds and three assists. Teoh was the only player for his team to score in double digits.
The Philippines shot 46 percent, with over half of their shots coming from their 18 assists. They also dominated the rebounding wars, 57-33. However, they committed 19 turnovers, which the Malaysians turned to 21 points.
As they reigned supreme in the SEABA U-16, the Philippines, along with Malaysia, will now be heading into the 2017 FIBA Asia U16 Championship set on October 5 to 15.
The Scores:
Thailand (75) – Chayapiwat 18, Homthuanlom 15, Boateng 11, Preechahan 10, Wadman 8, Rattanawiwatpong 5, Srangthao 3, Kinnaret 2, Preechatiwong 2, Buakaw 1, Kamwised 0, Iabsap 0.
Singapore (58) – Chin 12, Chuabio 11, Teo ZM 10, Teo TZ 10, Adam 5, Amado 4, Li 2, Tan 2, Lim 2, Tor 0, Lacsado 0, Soh 0.
Quarterscores: 31-1, 40-18, 57-29, 75-58
