THE ENERGEN Pilipinas bounced right back from its loss to Iran and opened its campaign in the second round with an 88-62 win over Indonesia in the Fiba Asia Under-18 Championships in UlaanBaatar, Mongolia yesterday.
Cebuano guard Jerie Pingoy led the way for the Nationals with 16 points while Mario Bonleon added 15.
Rey Nambatac added 11 while another Cebuano, Kris Porter, formerly of the SHS-Ateneo de Cebu, added eight points.
The Nationals started off hot behind the torrid shooting of Bonleon and Pingoy, who combined for 14 of their first 15 points.
After Indonesia crept to within five, they unleashed an 11-2 run that was anchored on the six-point cluster of Bonleon that helped put them ahead by 15, 45-30.
The lead eventually ballooned to a high of 31, 88-57, as Nambatac and Pingoy conspired on a 12-2 run that sealed the win for the Filipino youngsters. The win put the Nationals in third place in Group F with their 2-1 (win-loss) record. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio