PH U-16 squad settles for fourth

THE ENERGEN Pilipinas Under-16 squad fnished their stint in the FIBA Asia U-16 Championsip on a down note as they settled for fourth place after falling at the hands of Japan, 81-94, in the third-place game at the Khanh Hoa Sports Center in Vietnam.

Costly turnovers, erratic shooting and the resurgence of Japan guard Daiki Kaneko and lefty Keita Shinkawa put the Nationals behind 65-42, seconds into the fourth period. The Energen-backed Philippine cagers of coach Olsen Racela tried to mount a rally with their pressure defense, allowing Hubert Cani, Kyles Lao and Jay Alejandro to score off Japanese miscues.

A Lao basket made it 85-77 for the PH boys with 1:33 left but Japan answered on a layup by Yasunori Aoki ten seconds later. Center Yusei Suguira then converted a three-point play with 43.5 ticks remaining for a 90-77 lead. Those baskets were enough to secure Japan’s vengeful win over the Philippines. In their first meeting, Japan succumbed to an 83-72 loss at the conclusion of the second round.

China, led by towering 7-foot-2 cager Zhou Qi’s 43 points, dominated South Korea, 92-52, in the one-game finale to win its second straight title.

The defeat, which came after a crushing 67-58 setback to the Koreans in Thursday’s semifinals, forced the Nationals to equal the fourth place showing of the Kiefer Ravena-led Nokia Pilipinas team two years ago in Johor Bahru.

Silent in the first encounter, Kaneko buried eight triples for 22 points in the rematch while Shinkawa netted 16 points off a number of long two-pointers to frustrate the Energen cagers.

Cani and Lao had 16 points apiece to lead PH team while Alejandro was held to just 12 points after an explosive 34-point performance in the previous clash with Japan. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio