2014 FIBA U17: Batang Gilas bows to taller Angola, 82-72
The Philippine Under-17 Team gave its best but still fell prey to a taller Angolan side on Friday night, absorbing a 72-82 setback as the FIBA Under-17 World Championship got going at the Al Ahli Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Collectively known as “Batang Gilas,” the PH side proved to be a tough nut to crack in the early goings but eventually succumbed to the height of the Angolans, the African champions whose average height of 6’4” surpasses the height of Batang Gilas’ tallest player, the 6’3” Richard Escoto. The Africans started to assert their will and dominance inside the lane in the second period, led by the all-around play of versatile power forward Joao Jungo.
Utilizing his 6-foot-6 frame to the hilt, Jungo turned out to be the biggest problem for the Philippines as he pumped in 26 points on an efficient 12-of-17 shooting from the field on top of 11 rebounds and three blocks, enabling the Angolans to open their title bid on a high note in Group A.
Guard Eric Amandio backstopped Jungo with 17 points and 12 rebounds while two other teammates, Edmilson Miranda and Valdir Manuel, added at least 10 markers for Angola, which outrebounded the smaller Filipinos 70-46 and also swatted seven blocks.
Ateneo’s Jolo Mendoza tallied a team-high with 16 points, 11 of them coming in a sizzling offensive display in the second canto, while Hope Christian High School’s Jollo Go and University of the Philippines’ Diego Dario added 13 and 12, respectively, for the Filipinos, who kept in step with the Angolans up to the early moments of the second canto, forging a 21-all count.
Back-to-back triples by Amandio, however, provided the needed spark for the Angolans, who took a nine-point lead at the break and went on to keep the Filipinos at bay.
The Batang Gilas showed some signs of life early in the third canto as they pulled within 39-46 off Mendoza’s floater but the Angolans found enough ways and countered back with a 13-6 run, capped by Do’s big triple.
Refusing to give up, the PH side continued to entertain hopes and even threatened at 70-77 off a Paul Desiderio jumper with 44 seconds left to play, but the Angolans wouldn’t be denied.
The Filipinos plunge back to action on Saturday against Greece and will take a one-day breather before taking on defending champion USA on Monday.
The scores:
Angola (82) — Jungo 26, Amandio 17, Miranda 12, V. Manuel 10, Do 6, Valente 5, De Sousa 4, Fernando 2, D. Manuel 0.
Philippines (72) — Mendoza 16, Go 13, Dario 12, Desiderio 9, Dela Cruz 6, Ma. Nieto 6, Escoto 4, Mi. Nieto 2, Navarro 2, Padilla 2, Abadeza 0, Panlilio 0.
Quarterscores: 15-12; 41-32; 61-52; 82-72.
