Energen rips Saudi, faces Japan next

NHA TRANG CITY, Vietnam – Energen Pilipinas buried Saudi Arabia with an avalanche of triples as it rolled to a 100-42 victory Sunday to clinch at least the No. 2 seeding in the quarterfinal round of the Second FIBA-Asia U-16 Championship at the Khan Hoa Sports Center here.

The Nationals hit 11 of 23 treys, their best in the tournament after making seven in a 107-28 rout of Qatar Saturday, en route to annexing their fourth straight win that primed them up for a key duel with the Japanese for the top seeding in Group B.

Japan drubbed Indonesia, 77-46, to match the Philippines’ 4-0 slate.

“The real tournament starts against Japan so I keep telling the boys to be prepared,” said Energen Pilipinas coach Olsen Racela, whose wards are playing with the Japanese at press time.

“I also stressed to them that our first four games were like playing high school teams,” said Racela. “Against Japan and the rest of our games starting in the quarterfinals, I told them we will be playing college teams.”

A victory over Japan will seal the No. 1 seed for Energen Pilipinas and a quarterfinal showdown with reigning West Asian champion Iraq, which overcame 7-1 Satnam Singh Bhamara’s 32-point explosion to score a 72-64 victory No. 4 seeding in the tougher Group A.

A setback, however, will relegate the Filipinos to the No. 2 spot for a duel with the Lebanese, the West Asian Basketball Association second runners up who are already assured of the No. 3 seed regardless of their game with winless Chinese Taipei yesterday.

“We’re looking at it that way that’s why a win over Japan is really important in so many ways for us,” said Racela, out to improve the country’s fourth place finish in Malaysia last year.

“But we have to play consistent, more aggressive and stay focused to accomplish our goals,” he added.

So awesome was Energen Pilipinas’ outside shooting that seven players scored from beyond the arc with Rev Diputado, Henry Asilum, Jay Alejandro and Fil-Am Nick Dalafu hitting two triples each and Prince Rivero, Hubert Cani and Fil-Aussie Jordan Heading making one apiece.

Xavier’s Kyles Lao, who missed the team’s last two games due to ankle injury, is expected to see action against Japan.

Rivero, member of the National U team that won its first-ever UAAP juniors crown last month, led the team with 17 points while Heading, Asilum, Diputado and Tomas Ramos combined for 44 points in another balanced attack.

“Coach (Racela) told me to just do my role, which is to defend and get the rebounds first because scoring will come naturally,” said the 6-4 Rivero.

Asilum, the starting guard when the Phl swept the SEABA Championship in Malaysia last August, also dished off a game-high seven assists.

“I wasn’t focused in the first round,” said Asilum, a graduating Sacred Heart of Cebu student. “My focus is really the second round that’s why I’m more relaxed and at ease in the last two games.”

FIBA-Asia U-16 notes: India’s 15-year-old, 7-1 Satnam Singh Bhamara has scored 73 points in the last two games, including 41 in a 78-66 loss to South Korea Monday and 32 in another 64-72 defeat to Iraq yesterday...Bhamara’s father is reportedly two inches taller than him and his grandma is 6-9 tall...Korean sharpshooter Heo Hoon made his presence felt by firing a tournament best 31 points in a showdown with Bhamara. His father is Korean legend Hur Jae, who steered the Koreans to a bronze medal finish in last month’s FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.