MANILA, Philippines -- The Batang Gilas bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to Japan in the quarterfinals with a pair of victories in the consolation round to salvage fifth place in the 2015 FIBA Asia U-16 Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Putting their sorry quarterfinal loss, the Batang Gilas finished strong in the tournament by routing Thailand on Friday, 81-46, before crushing Lebanon, 89-74, on Saturday.
The Philippines fell short of qualifying for the FIBA U17 World Championship in Spain next year as Korea, Chinese Taipei and China booked the three tickets allotted to Asia by finishing in the top three.
Korea emerged as the new champion by beating erstwhile undefeated Chinese Taipei, 78-69, in the gold medal match. Deposed champion China vent its ire on Japan to settle for bronze with an 80-58 lopsided win.
Jonas Tibayan led five Batang Gilas players in double figures with 16 points. Harvey Pagsanjan and team skipper SJ Belangel finished with 13 apiece while Sean Dave Ildefonso and Gian Mamuyac added 12 and 10, respectively.
The Batang Gilas lost twice in the whole tournament to wind up as 5th among 15 nations but it was highlighted by an epic come-from-behind 78-72 win against three-time champion China that signaled the end of its dynasty.
While the Philippines got ambushed in the quarterfinals, China also suffered the same fate against Korea in the semifinals paving the way for the coronation of a new champion.
Before losing to the Batang Gilas, China had an amazing 33-win streak en route to the first three titles of the tournament since its formation in 2009.
In the last edition two years ago, the Philippines settled for first runner-up behind China to make it to the world championship in the same year Gilas Pilipinas also gained a ticket.