Youth team gets back at Lebanon

TEHRAN – The Nokia RP team got back at Lebanon, 74-63, to salvage seventh place at the close of the 2008 FIBA Asian junior men championship at the Azadi Stadium here Friday.

Guard Joel de Guzman, wingman Matthew Wright and forward Jaypee Mendoza scored at least 10 points each as the RP boys avenged a three-point loss to the Lebanese during the preliminary round to finish their stint in the 16-nation tourney with an even 4-4 win-loss record.

One of those four RP wins came at the expense of host Iran which clobbered Kazakhstan, 95-76, to reclaim the crown it won in Bangalore in 2004.

Syria held off Japan, 93-86, for the bronze medal and the last slot for the region in the 2009 world under-19 championship in New Zealand. It was Syria’s first podium finish after winning the silver medal in 1990 in Nagoya, Japan.

China, which missed the Final Four after forfeiting its crucial quarterfinal-round match against Syria, took fifth place on a 106-97 victory over Korea.

The Philippines banked on a strong finish to withstand Lebanon. The RP boys posted earlier wins over Chinese Taipei, United Arab Emirates and Iran and suffered losses to Lebanon, Korea, Japan and China.

Garcia, the most consistent RP player in the tourney, joined forces with Wright and Norberto Torres as the RP boys made a decisive run from a 62-63 count in the homestretch.

The RP boys actually posted a double-digit margin, 40-29, right in the first half but the Lebanese won’t give up the fight easily.

“The boys seemed to relax whenever they had a comfortable lead just like what happened in our game against Japan. But they are young and full of talent. I’m sure they’ll be able to correct that as they mature and play longer as a team,” said coach Derrick Pumaren, who subbed for his brother Franz in the team’s last two games.

The scores:

RP 74 – De Guzman 15, Garcia 14, Wright 11, Mendoza 10, Torres 7, Sangalang 7, Tolentino 6, Banal 4.

Lebanon 63 – Ibrahim 14, Maatouk 10, Akl 10, El Haber 9, Aoun 6, Zaloum 6, Nader 3, El Khouri 2, El Nar 2, Kabbara 1.

Quarterscores: 17-18, 40-34, 52-48, 74-63