Diputado shines for PH U16 team

FORMER SACRED Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu standout Adven Jess Diputado had his moment of glory on the international stage as he led the Energen Pilipinas Under-16 Youth Team to a 109-46 drubbing of Indonesia in the 1st Southeast Asian Basketball Association Under-16 for Men at the Kuala Langat gym in Banting City, Malaysia.

The win by the Nationals proved to be crucial as this assured them of a slot in the FIBA Asia Under-16 tournament slated on Oct. 18 to 28 in Vietnam.

At the helm of the massacre was Diputado, who played for the Magis Eagles for two seasons, and had his breakout last year when he led the school to the finals of the Cesafi juniors division. Since then, Diputado has transferred to San Beda.

Yesterday, he scored 20 points on an efficient 8-of-12 clip from the field, including two three-point shots.

Hubert Cani also fired 19 markers, including eight in a 22-0 blast as the Philippines held Indonesia to only three points in the first quarter.

Arvin Tolentino, who had 16 points in the Philippines’ 91-64 drubbing of host Malaysia on Tuesday night, delivered anew with 19 markers and five rebounds.

Daryl Pascual registered the game’s lone double-double with 13 points and 12 boards.

The Philippines had a 7-of-15 clip from three-point range, with Tolentino (3-of-3) and Diputado (2-of-2) both posting perfect percentages.

Indonesia dropped to 1-1 (win-loss) along with Singapore, which downed Laos, 108-70, in the other game.

BOX SCORES:

PHILIPPINES 109—Diputado 20, Cani 19, Tolentino 19, Pascual 13, Lao 9, Vito 8, Asilum 6, Brill 5, Tongco 4, Javelosa 4, Babilonia 2.

INDONESIA 46—Purwoko 9, Abraham 9, Kosasih 8, Istiadi 7, Kokodiputro 6, Fahdan 4, Sandy 3, Saputra 0, Rejenoka 0, Yogia 0, Airawan 0, Setiawan 0.

Quarters: 22-3, 45-21, 75-32, 109-46.  Correspondent Jonas Panerio