Members of the Gilas Pilipinas U16 team had their first title. LA Tenorio had his first championship as national youth coach. And the home crowd thousands who braved an hours-long afternoon thunderstorm had a delirious moment to remember.
This after everything came together for the Philippines in the game that mattered most.
The predominantly Pampanga-based fans made their presence felt early, chanting ‘Defense!” after Gilas playmaker Ethan Tan-Chi broke the ice by swishing a 3-pointer seconds into the game.
Everaigne Cruz followed with another triple and the Philippines was on its way to posting its biggest lead of the first half at 23 in the 70-40 annihilation of much-feared Indonesia Friday for the gold medal in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center.
Overall, the biggest advantage was 34 points.
The Gilas Youth dominated the battle underneath and the early lead allowed Tenorio to go leisurely deep into his roster, with the bench responding by sustaining what the starters began.
It was 21-5 after 10 minutes and 41-20 at the half, the initial trepidation at facing such a dangerous opponent which the Nationals narrowly beat in the preliminary round dissipating as quickly as the initial concern triggered by the heavy downpour.
Even Indonesia’s top player Benjamin Hernusi, who had 23 points in Gilas’ hard-earned 77-68 victory in their first meeting, found his usual routes to the basket choked as he was starved to eight points on 2 of 16 from the field, missing four of his five 3-point attempts.
“I think we played a way, way better defensive game from when we first met them,” said Tenorio. “Now we’re more ready. I told the players, ‘wala tayong bagong gagawin kundi yung ginagawa natin nang last two months sa praktis natin — tama, maayos, mas aggressive, 'di tayo magkakaproblema.’”
The first-time national youth coach, who gave his family a hug after the final, said, “Personally, I’m happy, but I’m happier for the players. Para sa kanila ‘to.”
Preparing for the FIBA U16 Asia Cup, he said, will come later.
“Pag-uusapan pa namin,” said Tenorio, who got his victory ride from the team. “There’s the schedule of the players pa with their respective schools. That’s the challenge now. We’ll see.”
Named Most Valuable Player of the tournament was Gilas Youth forward Carl Gabriel De Los Reyes, while Vietnam’s Nguyen Hoang Minh Khang was presented with the Sportsmanship award.
While the light shone equally on all Gilas Youth players following the blowout win, shining with extra intensity were were Jhustin Hallare with 13 points, De Los Reyes with 11 and seven rebounds and Tan-Chi with nine points with a pair of treys.
The Philippines and Indonesia, along with Malaysia, earned tickets to the 2025 FIBA U16 Asia Cup in Mongolia this July, with the Malaysians saving their best for payback by sealing Thailand’s downward spiral 78-69 for third place and a seat in the last bus.
From 14-10, the Malaysians, who had little answer to the Thais’ offense the first time out in a 56-47 prelims loss, held all the cards from the onset when they ran across each other again, leaving nothing to chance in slamming the door early on their distant Southeast Asian neighbor and opening as much as a 24-point cushion.
The blazing start paid dividends.
A thunderous return by the Thais — after Malaysia’s Jeremie Cameron, who had 11 points at that juncture, was ejected for unsportsmanlike foul with 3:19 left in the third — found a wellspring of comeback from here as they came charging to within 67-62 with 4:59 to go in the game.
But Malaysia had locked in to the prospect of advancing to the FIBA Asia Cup and refused to let go, dealing the Thais a painful revenge loss.
Meanwhile, Singapore, after a 14-year wait for a followup victory in SEABA U16, was finally rewarded with the “milestone” by outlasting Vietnam 87-78 and taking fifth place in a pulsating rematch decided only in the closing minutes.
In a country where football reigns supreme, basketball gained a toehold in the popularity race as vengeful Singapore picked up its first win since 2011 when it routed Laos 108-70 in the SEABA Under 16 Championship in Banting, Kuala Langat, Malaysia.
That year, the Philippines, led by Arvin Tolentino, swept to power with its maiden SEABA U16 Championship.
On their coattails, Malaysia and Indonesia hopped alongas qualifiers to the 2011 FIBA Asia Under 16 Championship in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Singapore had languished on the periphery, until Xi Jun Ong struck for 17 points with nine rebounds and eight assists 14 years later.
He combined with five others in posting double figures to stun Vietnam, whose lone win in the tournament turned out, ironically, to be tormented Singapore 89-83 five days ago.
Vietnam was within 64-63 with 7:35 remaining but staggered back when Singapore went on a decisive 10-0 run, lasting two minutes.
While not yet around when Singapore won its first SEABA U16 game, its youthful German head coach Leo Paul Oskar Aris said, “It feels great to finally win one, especially after five losses. The guys really earned it, everybody was fighting to win.”