THE PHILIPPINE Under-16 squad avenged themselves on the country’s tormentors in the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship last August as it blasted Iran, 79-52, to advance to the semifinal round in the 3rd FIBA Asia U-16 Championship last Wednesday night at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran, Iran.
Iran denied the Philippines a gold medal with an 85-71 win in the prestigious tilt that was staged in Manila two months ago. With that defeat still fresh in their minds, the Under-16 team of the Philippines proceeded to rout the Iranians to forge a semifinal showdown with another Asian rival, Chinese Taipei.
Jolo Mendoza topped the Nationals with 16 points while Michael Nieto and Jose Go IV added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Cebuano Paul Desiderio, a former Cesafi MVP, had 11 markers and seven rebounds even as Carlo Abadeza chipped in 10 points.
Waiting for the Nationals in the semis will be a Chinese Taipei squad that is brimming with confidence, especially after beating the Philippines 95-90 in their Group D encounter last week.
The other semifinal pairing will see the might China take on Kazakhstan.
BOX SCORES:
Philippines (79) – Mendoza 16, Nieto 13, Go 12, Desiderio 11, Abadeza 10, Dela Cruz 6, Escoto 5, J. Nieto 2, Navarro 2, Padilla 2, Dario 0, Panlilio 0.
Iran (52) – Farhadichalabeh 26, Sheikhi 8, Nasiririneh 4, Baban 4, Razeghin 3, Meraji 3, Azari 2, Seyedi 2, Poat kisomi 0. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio