Argentina survives hot-shooting Batang Gilas

MANILA, Philippines – Batang Gilas finally hit their outside shots but still was not enough to lift them over the taller Argentinians, 84-71, at the start of the classification round in the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship in Dubai.

Hope Christian High School standout Jollo Go picked up the cudgels from the team’s injury-hit top scorer Jolo Mendoza but his 27-point explosion went for naught as Batang Gilas fell short in their courageous fourth quarter rally.

Mendoza, who averaged close to 16 points per game, sat out with a hamstring injury sustained in their quarterfinal loss to France. 

The shorter Filipinos again played with a big heart coming back from as many as 22 points down to make it just a seven-point game inside final minute of the game. But time and exhaustion caught up with the Batang Gilas as they missed several chances to trim the gap further.

Batang Gilas hit 13 triples, six coming from Go, but they were once again badly beaten off the boards, 62-40, to hasten their fifth straight defeat.

The Phl U17, which is competing in the world championship for the first time after its silver medal run in the FIBA Asia championship last year, will face Egypt Friday in the classification phase for the 13^th to 16^th spots.

Argentina, which lost to Spain (64-57) in the quarterfinals, erected its second 22-point lead, 74-52, on a Jeffrey Merchant three-pointer with 5:27 left in the game. They were cruising to a big win until the Filipinos peppered them with their outside shots. 

Given up for dead, Batang Gilas rose back to life with Michael dela Cruz, Paul Desiderio and Go starring in a daring 12-0 run. The Filipinos came closest on a three-pointer by Mike Nieto, 78-71, but Argentina was able to survive as time ran out. 

Dela Cruz had 14 points and five rebounds while Desiderio chipped in 10 markers that went with five boards and three assists. Nieto, Batang Gilas’ 6-2 starting power forward, almost had a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds.  His twin brother Matt Nieto finished with seven points, five boards and four assists.

Argentina was led by its 6-4 shooting guard Agustin Mas Delfino with 20 points and six rebounds. Their other 6-4 shooting guard Ayan Carvalho wound up with 16 while the 6-5 Merchant added 14. Their 6-6 starting power forward Luis Delfino who battled Nieto inside the paint finished with 10 points and eight boards.