B Gilas targets Asia U-18 q’final

MANILA, Philippines - Batang Gilas hopes to win at least one of their three games in second round play to gain a crack at the quarterfinals of the FIBA-Asia Under-18 Championship at the Al-Gharafa Gym in Doha, Qatar.

The Filipinos finished tied for third with the Malaysians, their Southeast Asian rivals, on 1-1 (win-loss) records, behind the Chinese and South Koreans, who swept the first round.

The Phl was playing Qatar (0-2) at press time and is scheduled to take on powerhouse China tomorrow before closing the second round with a game against Malaysia on Sunday.

Batang Gilas won its first game against Jordan, 85-60, but bowed to South Korea, 69-87.

The Filipinos will have to minimize their turnovers after committing 23 against the Koreans, who scored 23 turnover points, including 14 on the break.

Ranbill Tongco, a rookie out of the San Beda Lions, is again expected to lead Batang Gilas charge after scoring 24 points each in two games.