Nationals’ Under-16 team back on track

THE PHILIPPINE Under-16 squad made up for its previous debacle to Chinese Taipei by logging two successive victories in the 3rd FIBA Asia U16 Championship at the Azadi Sport Complex in Tehran, Iran over the weekend.

The Nationals first defeated Jordan, 73-60, in Group F action last Saturday then dished out their most fluent display in the tournament by routing Japan, 94-76, yesterday.

Japan went into the game without a defeat but it was the Philippines who dominated the proceedings right through.

“We executed our plans very well,” coach Michael Ray Jarin told Fiba.com. “I just told them to go out there and enjoy themselves and it worked like magic.”

Nieto twins – Michael and Joseph – combined for 34 points and 13 rebounds while former University of the Visayas now University of the Philippines star Andres Paul Desiderio scored 19 points powering Philippines’ to its third win in four games.

Jose Go IV had 22 points and five rebounds to push the Philippines over Jordan last Saturday.

Also helping the cause were Jolo Mendoza, who had 14 points and seven steals, and Michael Nieto, who continued his string of double-double performances with 12 points and 20 rebounds.  /Correspondent Jonas Panerio with fiba.com