Batang Gilas dwarf Kazakhstan; China, Iran clash for U-18 crown

MANILA, Philippines - Team Philippines ran the taller, bigger Kazakhstan to the ground and came away with an 86-74 victory as the Batang Gilas assured themselves of at least a sixth place finish in the 23rd FIBA-Asia Under-18 Championship at the Al-Gharafa gym in Doha, Qatar Wednesday night.

UP’s Andres Paul Desiderio fired 19 points, San Beda’s Ranbill Tongco added 13 markers and Hope Christian School’s Jose Go IV, National U’s Mark Anthony Dyke and Los Angeles Cathedral’s Kobe Paras each had 10 points to help power the Filipinos to victory.

The Nationals, whose campaign is sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation and Smart, are actually gunning for fifth against the Japanese, who slammed the Malaysians, 87-63, at press time.

Under coach Jamike Jarin, the Filipinos topped the Southeast Asian Basketball Association U-18 Championship, took the silver in the FIBA-Asia U-16 Championship in Iran last year, made the FIBA U-17 World in Dubai and then made it to the quarterfinals here.

Meanwhile, China smashed Chinese Taipei, 92-50, and Iran routed South Korea, 78-60, to arrange a duel for the gold medal while clinching the first two spots in the 2015 FIBA U-19 World in Greece.

South Korea and Taiwan will dispute the third and last berth in the world tilt.