Tall Koreans put Energen out of U-18 title chase

MANILA, Philippines - Energen Pilipinas failed to sustain a solid first half stint and lost steam in the second, dropping a 77-90 setback to South Korean and bowing out of the title race in the 22nd FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship at the Buyant Ukhaa Arena in Ulan Bator, Mongolia last night.

Jonghyun Lee overpowered the Filipinos with game-highs of 26 points, 18 rebounds and six shot blocks to send the tall Koreans to the semifinals against the winner of the other quarters match between the Lebanese and the Iranians, who were playing at presstime.

The loss sent the Filipinos to the consolation round where they could aim for a fifth place at best, the same finish of Team Phl in the last Asia U-18 tilt in Sana’A, Yemen.

The Nationals, who swept the SEABA U-18 in Singapore last month to clinch a berth here, also blew the chance to nail one of the three berths in the 2013 FIBA World Under-19 Championship in Prague, Czech Republic.

Jerie Pingoy of Far Eastern U led Energen with 19 points while Rey Nambatac of Letran and Rodolfo Alejandro added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

But the Phl had no answer to Lee, who practically carried Korea with his awesome shooting all game.

It was another sorry loss suffered by the Filipino youth to Koreans, who also blasted Racela’s charges, 67-58, in the second FIBA-Asia Under-16 tilt in Vietnam last year.

The Filipinos survived Bahrain, 99-72, but ended up third in their group after Chinese Taipei stunned Iran, 78-77, in overtime last Wednesday.

The dreaded Koreans, on the other hand, finished second in the other bracket following a 102-107 loss to the mighty Chinese, also in overtime.

The scores:

South Korea 90 – J. Lee 26, J. Choi 17, Heo 15, Kang 10, S. Choi 9, Cheon 7, Se. Choi 4, Park 2

Energen Pilipinas 77 – Pingoy 19, Nambatac 12, Alejandro 11, Olayon 8, Cani 8, Suarez 7, Lao 4, Javelosa 4, Rivero 2, Porter 2, Babilonia 0

Quarterscores: 22-19; 47-41; 69-55; 90-77