3 days ago
Gilas Youth staves off Indonesia to remain unbeaten in FIBA U16 SEABA qualifiers
Gilas Pilipinas Youth fended off a late barrage staged by Indonesia, 77-68, to preserve its unbeaten run in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers on Wednesday at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex.
The Filipinos led by as much as 14 midway through the fourth period, but unlike their previous outings they won in dominant fashion, they nearly lost steam in the endgame this time around.
The wards of head coach LA Tenorio, however, found the finishing touch to remain spotless at 4-0. The win also allowed the hosts to deal the Indonesians their first loss of the tournament.
Heroes were plenty for the Philippine side with Prince Cariño leading the way with 15 points laced with six rebounds while Travis Pascual and Jolo Pascual chipped in 13 and 12 markers apiece.
A Cariño jumper sent Gilas Boys to a comfortable 63-49 lead at the 7:08 mark of fourth quarter, but the Indonesians found the stops and offense as they trimmed the gap to a single digit.
Benjamin Piet Hernusi completed a layup that saw Indonesia cutting the deficit to nine, 74-65, with 1:52 left in the game. They further pulled within six when Hernusi once again sank a clutch basket for a six-point affair, 74-68.
Travis Pascual then saved the day for Gilas Youth from the free throw line, splitting his charities off an unsportsmanlike foul from Seiya Yube with 31 ticks left.
He would complete a pair of charities to win it for Gilas.
Hernusi paced Indonesia with 23 points, three steals, one rebound, and one block while Gede Dio Arghya Naranatha and Yabe chimed in with 11 and 10 markers apiece.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
