Gains FIBA-Asia semis: Phl U-16 blasts host Iran

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines used a balanced attack to overpower a fancied Iran side, 79-52, and barge into the semifinal round of the third FIBA-Asia Under-16 Championship in Tehran, Iran Wednesday night.

The victory moved the Filipinos one win away from clinching one of the three berths in the 2014 FIBA World Under-17 Championship slated June 26-July 6 in Dubai.

Jolo Mendoza fired 16 points while fellow Atenean Mike Nieto, Hope Christian’s Jolo Go, UP’s Paul Desiderio and La Salle-Greenhills’ Carlo Abadeza scored 13, 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Nationals, now assured of matching the country’s fourth place finish in the 2009 inaugurals in Malaysia and in 2011 in Vietnam.

It was also a sweet revenge win by the Filipinos, who bowed to the Iranians, 73-83, in overtime in their bronze medal match in Malaysia four years ago. 

The Nationals were playing their first round tormentors Chinese Taipei at presstime for a berth in the world meet. Taiwan nipped Bahrain, 70-67.

The other semis duel pits reigning back-to-back champion China, which overwhelmed Kazakhstan, 102-75, and Japan, which humbled South Korea, 75-71.

The Filipinos topped Group F and gained the top seeding going into the playoff phase with a 4-1 (win-loss) record with their lone setback at the hands of the Taiwanese, 90-95.