Photo credit: FIBA | fiba.basketball
World Cup-bound Gilas Pilipinas Youth suffered their biggest loss in the tournament against their fellow World Cup-bound team, undefeated world no. 4 Australia, 36-92 in the knockout semifinal of the 2023 FIBA U16 Asian Championship on early Sunday morning, September 24 (PHL time) at the Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall in Doha, Qatar. [VIDEO]
Before the game, Australians were averaging 119 points per game with an impressive winning margin of 77 points over four games.
The taller and bigger Australians had a hot start, leading 22-7 after the first quarter, and limited the Philippines to only 3 points in the second quarter, finishing the half with a score of 47-10.
Gilas found themselves at a significant disadvantage in rebounds (73-31), assists (17-8), second chance points (27-9), points in the paint (62-16), fast break points (10-2), and bench points (46-21), with Australia's biggest scoring run being an impressive 27-0.
Four Australian players finished with double-digit scores, whereas no Filipino players reached double figures in scoring. 6'3" Dash Daniels led the Crocs with a double-double of 12 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and a steal while 7'1" Sa Pilimai scored 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a block. 6'8" Henry Sewell also had a double-double game of 10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.
Gilas star Kiefer Louie Alas played 17 minutes with only one field goal (1/7FG, 1/5 2pt, 0/2 3pt), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and a steal. Cletz David Amos and Irus Chua were the top scorers for the Philippines, each contributing 6 points.
In the other semifinal bracket, New Zealand beat China, 86-69, both of which are also World Cup-bound teams. The Philippines will face China in the bronze medal match on Sunday, September 24, at 10:00pm, PHL time [LIVE].
The Josh Reyes-mentored Gilas Pilipinas Youth U16 12-man roster consists of 5'9" Joaquin Gabriel Ludovice, 5'11" Irus Chua, 5'11" Elijah Mark Williams, 5'11" Kurt Nathan Velasquez, 6'1" Cletz David Amos, 6'1" Noah Matteo Banal, 6'1" Samuel Alegre, 6'2" Kiefer Louie Alas, 6'4" Edryn Morales, 6'4" Bonn Ervin Daja, 6'5" Jaime Lorenzo Gomez de Liaño and 6'6" Paul Cyron Diao.
The scores:
AUSTRALIA 92 - Daniels 12, Walker 11, Pilimai 11, Sewell 10, Cotton 9, Dickeson 7, Cheesman 7, Kuany 6, Riddle 6, Brammall 5, Beauchamp 4, Duff-Tytler 4.
PHILIPPINES 36 - Chua 6, Amos 6,
Banal 5, Diao 4, Ludovice 4, Morales 4, Williams 3, Alas 2, de Liano 2, Velasquez 0, Alegre 0, Daja 0.
Quarters: 22-7, 45-10, 71-20, 92-36. [FULL REPLAY VIDEO] | [STATS]
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