Japan sweeps Meralco-Gilas cadet

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines suffered a double whammy against Japan on Sunday.

Moments after the Volcanoes suffered a 0-50 shutout at the hands of the Asian powerhouse in Moscow, Russia, the Meralco Bolts-Gilas cadet team also fell to the same fate in the 2013 Pocari Sweat Challenge in Tokyo, Japan.

Japan’s big man Kosuke Takeuchi dished out another monster game to lead the three-game sweep of the Filipinos, 88-61, on Sunday night.

Meralco-Gilas cadet failed to find an antidote to the 6-foot-9 veteran forward.  The 28-year old Takeuchi threw his full weight around again, this time, finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds in just 30 minutes after his 24-point, 14-rebound effort on Saturday.

The Bolts lost the first two games – 76-83 and 67-86 – of the friendly series for the benefit of the victims of the 2011 Tsunami that rocked Japan.

Just like in their first two games, the Bolts allowed Japan to another quick start.  Takeuchi imposed his will with six points and same number of rebounds right in the opening quarter helping Japan take a 20-13 lead.  The seven-point hole grew to 20 points, 29-49, at halftime as Ryota Sakurai, a 6-foot-5 guard, waxed hot with 10 second quarter points.

The Bolts’ import prospect Chris Blake struggled with 16 points against the constant double team scheme of Japan while Mac Cardona shot a woeful 4-of-11 from the field and wound up with only eight points.

Meralco’s veteran big man Reynel Hugnatan had 12 points while cadet player Kevin Alas chipped in 10 to the losing cause. The team played without some of its key players including Fil-Am rookie banger Cliff Hodge and starting point guard Chris Ross, who are still in vacation. 

The game went beyond reach in the third canto when Takeuchi combined with Kosuke Kanamaru and Makoto Hiejima for 13 of Japan’s 26 points. The combined output of the trio alone was enough to counter the Bolts in the third quarter as the gaping hole went bigger, 42-75, entering the fourth.

Team Hayabusa fielded in the same team that Gilas Pilipinas beat in the Jones Cup with some new faces from their cadet pool.

JR Sakuragi (formerly Henderson) did not play in the entire series but Gilas cadet player Garvo Lanete told naturalized Filipino Marcus Douthit on Twitter in between Games Two and Three that “they can easily beat this team”.

“They don’t have a good point guard,” Lanete told Douthit on his Twitter account (garvothe13) on Sunday.

But their bigs and wings may pose the biggest threat come the FIBA-Asia joust in August.

Aside from Takeuchi, Japan’s 19-year old center Atsuya Ota also showed a lot of promise with a 19-point and 12-rebound in the series opener.   And who can’t forget deadshot Keijuro Matsui, who torched Gilas for 27 points built on a perfect eight-for-eight three-point shooting in the Jones Cup.