Inspired Batang Gilas eyes semifinal against Japan

MANILA, Philippines - Batang Gilas hopes to ride the momentum of its shock win over fancied China Tuesday as it guns for a semifinal berth against Japan in the FIBA-Asia Under-16 Championship at the Britama gym in Jakarta, Indonesia today.

The Nationals leaned on their near-impeccable sniping in the clutch and pesky defense to overcome the taller Chinese, closing out with a decisive 11-0 binge to snatch victory at the close of the single round elims.

The win tied the Philippines with China and Korea in Group F at 4-1 although the Filipino cagers settled for the No. 2 seeding after the tiebreak for a face-off with Japan, which wound up third in Group E with a 3-2 card.

The Chinese, who ruled the first three editions of the event, still ended up at No. 1 and will play Kuwait in the quarters while Korea, which downed the Phl, 77-74, last Monday, dropped to No. 3 for a clash with Lebanon.

Group E topnotcher Chinese-Taipei faces Thailand in the other quarters pairing.

Kris Harvey Pagsanjan, Jason Credo and SJ Belangel hit a triple each while Jonas Tibayan scored on a jumper to complete the Phl’s scoring windup anchored on their tough defense that held the Chinese scoreless in the stretch.

If it gets past Japan, the Philippines will play the winner of the Taiwan-Thailand duel for a spot in the championship.