Batang Gilas succumbs to Japan, bows out

MANILA, Philippines – Batang Gilas failed to flash the form it showed in upending China, bowing to a hot-shooting Japan side, 66-73, and out of the gold medal race in the FIBA-Asia Under-16 Championship at the Britama gym in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday.

The Japanese pounced on the Nationals’ poor start and posted double-digit spreads that ballooned to 23 points in the third quarter before warding off the Filipinos’ desperate rallies down the stretch to pound out the victory.

The win sent Japan against unbeaten Chinese-Taipei in the Final Four after the Taiwanese demolished the Thais, 88-39, in the other quarterfinal duel.

The Nationals, who finished second in Group F elims, actually battled back from 19 points down in the fourth with a series of baskets to pull within seven points on SJ Belangel baskets with 90 seconds remaining. But the Japanese held on behind Y. Nishida, K. Mimori and R. Ito to clinch the win.

The setback also sent Batang Gilas to its worst finish in the biennial meet after placing fourth twice in Malaysia in 2009 and Vietnam in 2011 and second to China in Iran two years ago that netted the Philippines a berth in the FIBA Worlds.

The best the Phl could finish is fifth.

The Nationals stunned the powerhouse Chinese, 78-72, at the close of the elims last Tuesday, earning them the No. 2 seeding in the quarters. 

Iraq and Malaysia were disputing the third semis berth at presstime while China was to face Kuwait in the last quarters match late last night.