Gilas Youth stays unbeaten after a 64-point beatdown of Singapore

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, May 27 ------ Gilas Pilipinas Youth continued to flash its might on both ends, rolling to a 101-37 victory over Singapore to stay unbeaten in the Fiba U16 Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers on Monday night at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center. The Filipino teenage dribblers shrugged off an early challenge by the visitors as they led most of the way and ended the game with their biggest lead at 64 points.

Everaigne Cruz led six Gilas players who scored in twin digits with 14 points in 17 minutes off the bench, while Jhustin Hallare added 13 points and six assists as the Philippines grabbed its third successive victory. Gilas takes a break on Tuesday before returning to action on Wednesday against fellow undefeated Indonesia.

Singapore scored the game’s first basket courtesy of Benny Lim and led by three points, 5-2, after a three-point play conversion by Fred Leow, but finished the first quarter with just two more points as the Philippines built a 24-7 lead.

Committed Gilas, Winning Gilas

“What I like about today’s game is really the commitment on defense,” Gilas Youth coach LA Tenorio said. “Yung disiplina sa depensa na hindi lang agaw ng agaw, but playing hard and aggressive. We were way better than the past two games. Yun yung gusto naming tema.” After all, the Philippines limited Singapore to a dismal 19.2-percent shooting, letting them make just 10 of their 52 shots as they held their opponent to less than 40 points, the lowest output in three games after allowing an average of 52 points in the first two wins.

Gab delos Reyes anchored Gilas’ defense, grabbing 13 of the national team’s 70 rebounds, tallying seven blocks, and missing a double-double by just three points. Gilas’ offense was also flowing, turning to a balanced attack that saw Ethan Tan-Chi chip in 12 points, built around two treys, four assists, three rebounds, Andwele Cabanero and John Rayven Restificar add 10 points apiece, while birthday-boy Travis Pascual contribute an all-around performance of 10 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Gilas could even afford to sit out captain Jolo Pascual due to an injury.

The scores:

PHILIPPINES 101 – Cruz 14, Hallare 13, Tan-Chi 12, Cabanero 11, Restificar 11, Pascual 10, Miranda 7, De los Reyes 7, Lumague 5, Carino 4

SINGAPORE 37 – Tan 12, Yang 7, Goh 5, Ong 3, Leow 3, S. Lim 3, B. Lim 2, Shao 2, Nideesh 0, Y. Lim 0, J. Lim 0

Quarters: 24-7, 54-21, 79-30, 101-37

Source: spin.ph