After a string of blowout victories, new Gilas Pilipinas Youth coach LA Tenorio embraced the experience of a close win against a tough Indonesian side in the preliminaries of the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers.
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA — Though having secured slots to the FIBA U16 Asia Cup in Mongolia this July, the Philippines and Indonesia, both unbeaten going to Wednesday’s SEABA Qualifiers game, nonetheless went at each other like a championship was at stake, drawing non-stop roar from the packed Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center.
In effect, it was — a prelude to a potential gold medal clash between the two teams on Friday although Gilas Pilipinas Youth coach LA Tenorio isn’t looking that far ahead.
“Mabuti na rin na ngayon ito nangyari samin, hindi sa finals,” said Tenorio, who then checked himself. “But, di pa namin iisipin yon. We still have one more game left.”
With a 4-0 slate, the Philippines wrap up the preliminaries against Malaysia on Thursday, with the championship game scheduled the next day.
The 77-68 victory over the Indonesians was a virtual cliffhanger for the Nationals, who had ran roughshod over Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand in their first three games.
“We didn’t come here to blow out opponents,” said Tenorio. “We came here to win, so we’re taking this. It’s good that this was a close game. Baka akala nang mga players, laging ganon ang mangyayari.”
A sellout crowd that included former Ateneo star center Rico Villanueva, who was part of the Louie Alas-coached 1998 Philippine U18 team, along with Yancy de Ocampo, BJ Manalo, and Emer Oreta, which saw action in the ABC Under 18 Championship in Kolkata, India, shouted itself hoarse with chants of ‘Defense!” as the Gilas Pilipinas Youth team pulled off the harrowing win over an opponent looking to steal the thunder from the host.
“They’re a strong team, very well coached, and very talented,” Tenorio acknowledged.
It was a single-digit lead for the Gilas in the closing minutes, and it remained that way until the Indonesians ran out of time and the Nationals were able to knock down a couple of clutch shots and free throws to dodge the bullet.
From a 32-28 halftime edge, the Gilas finally solved the puzzle of the Indonesians’ frenetic offense that allowed them to stay within striking distance in the first 20 minutes and poised for a stunning upset.
Jolo Pascual opened the third quarter with a three-pointer that sparked a 7-2 run as the Philippines, who couldn’t get going in the first half, missing drop passes that would have made life easier for them and getting caught looking elsewhere on defense, settled down to post its biggest lead at 14.
Indonesia refused to fold, however, cutting the deficit to 65-61 with 4:36 left before the Gilas strung seven unanswered points.
Prince Carino led the Gilas with 15 points, Travis Pascual added 13, and Jolo Pascual 12. Carl Delos Reyes and Everaigne Cruz also scored double digits with 10 points each.
Benjamin Hernusi powered Indonesia with 23 points and will be the main problem for the Gilas in the event of a rematch in the final.
In earlier games, Thailand, practically booted out of gold-medal contention following a disastrous loss to Indonesia Tuesday, crushed Vietnam 63-46 to snap consecutive setbacks, while Malaysia kept Singapore winless 78-55.