Nokia RP nips Syria, battles China 5 next

MANILA, Philippines - Kiefer Ravena scored with 44 seconds left and Nokia RP U-18 team held Syria scoreless in the last two minutes as it escaped with a 61-60 victory in the FIBA Asia U-18 Championships at the 22nd May court in Sana’A, Yemen Thursday.

Ravena’s game-winner capped a big day for the Ateneo mainstay, who finished with a game-high 19 points and four steals as the Nationals rolled to their second straight victory and braced for a showdown with fancied China Friday.

The Chinese whipped Saudi Arabia, 115-60, to match Team RP’s 2-0 record.

Muhammad Otabachi fired 12 points, the last two shoving Syria to a 60-59 lead with 2:12 left in the contest. But the Filipinos clamped down on the defense and held the hosts with a basket before Ravena came through with a twinner.

Raphael Banal had a breakout game of 15 points while Gelo Alolino tossed in 13 points for the RP youths, whose stint is backed by Nokia Phils. and TAO Corp.

Alolino also had four assists while Russel Escoto and Jeron Teng combined for 19 of the team’s 37 rebounds.

The Philippines shot better from the field with a 41 percent clip (23 of 56 attempts), 25 percent from three-point range (five of 20 tries) and 59 percent from the free-throw line (10 of 17).

“It was a character game for the boys going into the China match. Holding that lead until the last second really made the difference. The resiliency of the boys made the difference,” said head coach Eric Altamirano.

“The high-altitude conditions are still a challenge,” he said. “That, I think was the primary reason why we couldn’t sustain our speed and the pressure. But in the end I must say, after two games we are ready for the second round.”

Obida Al Samman led the Syrians with 15 points followed by 13 from Amer Al Sati.

The tournament offers three tickets to the 2011 FIBA U-19 World Championship to be played in Latvia next year.