Gilas Youth loses to Puerto Rico by 45, draws Team USA in Round of 16

July 3 ------ GILAS Pilipinas Youth ended the group stage winless after suffering another rout, this time at the hands of Puerto Rico, 98-53 in the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in Istanbul. The Filipinos failed to sustain a promising start that saw them take a 24-16 lead at the end of the first quarter, scoring just six points in the second and four in the third to fade to their third straight loss in Group A. 

By finishing dead last in the group, the Philippines will now face reigning champion United States in the round-of-16 on Wednesday. Team USA was coming off a 146-62 win against China that set the record for the most points scored in one game in tournament history, breaking the previous mark of 138 set by Spain over United Arab Emirates in 2014. The US also had 43 assists and 33 steals, all new tournament records as well. 

The face-off against Team USA means that the Philippines faced three of the top four teams from the last tournament in 2022. In the group stage, Gilas Youth lost to fourth-placer Lithuania, 107-48, and to runner-up Spain, 96-34. Joaquin Ludovice fired 13 points, while Kurt Velasquez chipped in 10 for Gilas Youth. Jordan Dill had 15 points to lead Puerto Rico. 

The scores: 

Puerto Rico 98 – Dill 15, Stewart 11, Vigo 10, Santiago 10, Roman 10, Santiago 9, Quinones 7, Cruz 6, Montes 6, Rosa 6, Pino 4, Colon 4. 

Philippines 53 - Ludovice 13, Velasquez 10, Amos 8, Daja 7, Banal 3, Chua 3, Alegre 3, Diao 2, Morales 1, Williams 0, Arejola 0. 

Quarters: 16-24; 48-30; 78-34; 98-53. 

Source: spin.ph