Energen Phl routs Iraq, faces South Korea in semis

NHA TRANG CITY, Vietnam– Energen Pilipinas came through with a defense tough enough to crack reigning West Asian champion Iraq, 82-69, to forge an interesting showdown with fierce rival South Korea in the Second FIBA-Asia U-16 Championship at the Khan Noa Sports Center here last night.

The Nationals face the sharpshooting South Koreans, who breezed past the Indonesians, 107-48, at 8 p.m. (Phl time) tonight hoping to preserve their unbeaten streak stretching to six games now.

Tomas Ramos, an Ateneo standout, and Jay Javelosa, a former Eaglet who is now with Reedley School, struck when their big guns couldn’t find their rhythm and fired 15 and 12 points, respectively, while teaming up with Isaac Go, Prince Rivero and Fil-Aussie Jordan Heading in forming an impenetrable interior defense.

The South Korea game will be extra special for both the Phl and Energen Pilipinas coach Olsen Racela after the former beat Smart Gilas Pilipinas for the bronze in last month’s FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China while handing Racela and the all-pro National team a heartbreaking semifinal setback in the 2002 Busan Asian Games.

Earlier, defending champion China waylaid Saudi Arabia, 100-19, and Japan trounced Lebanon, 71-52, to stage the other semifinal showdown.

Iraq made a big run in the third canto as Karrar Hamzah took his turn to shine and hit two booming triples in the period to cut Energen Pilipinas’ lead to a single-digit after a long while before Hubert Cani scored on a basket for a 62-52 lead.

The Nationals survived a three-point shooting spree by Ahmed Razzaq, who had 14 first half points including four from beyond the arc, as they went into the break with a 51-34 advantage.

Playing rock-solid interior defense, the Filipinos held the Iraqis to just nine points in the first quarter while unleashing their fluid running game to the hilt to seize a 30-9 lead and momentum early.

FIBA-Asia U-16 notes: Despite their aura of invincibility, this Chinese team has one trait that is obviously noticeable – they’re rude. Without even waiting for the Filipinos to wrap up their alloted one-hour practice session, the Chinese just rudely entered the court and started shooting baskets to the amazement of Racela and his players, who just left the court in silence to avoid any confrontation. “They barged in the practice of Energen Pilipinas. Didn’t even bother to send someone in first and talk to the team. That’s rude,” said Ryan Lao, brother of guard Kyles Lao who watched the team practice.

The scores:

Energen Pilipinas 82 – Ramos 15, Javelosa 12, Asilum 10, Lao 10, Cani 9, Diputado 8, Alejandro 8, Heading 6, Caracut 2, Rivero 2, Go 0, Dalafu 0

Iraq 69 – Razzaq 20, Hamzah 19, Sabri 12, Ismael 8, Mahdi 4, Abdulqaer 2, Abdullah 2, Ali 2, Saeed 0, Ahmed 0, Mohammed 0, Abdullhussein 0

Quarterscores:30-9; 51-34; 62-52; 82-69