PH U-16 sweeps first round

THE ENERGEN Pilipinas Under-16 team completed a sweep of the first round in the FIBA Asia U-16 Championship after they blasted the hosts, Vietnam, 111-25, late Thursday at the Khanh Hoa Sports Center in Vietnam.

Jordan Heading, a Fil-Australian who is based in Taiwan, had 22 points while 6-foot-2 Prince Rivero of National University added 20 markers as the Philippine cagers posted the second biggest winning margin so far after the third day of the tournament.

Lefty big man Jay Javelosa of Reedley added 16 points while guard former Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu ace guard Adven Jess Diputado scattered 10 points.

The Energen Pilipinas cagers, who also blasted Indonesia, 93-30, in their debut on Wednesday, will face formidable opponents in unbeaten Japan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar as the second round begins today.

The Philippine team battles Qatar tonight, needing a win to move at least an inch closer of advancing into the knockout quarterfinals stage. The top four teams after the second round will claim spots in that phase.

The 86-point win, second behind Lebanon’s 108-21 demolition of Uzbekistan on opening day, came at a prize. This as 5-foot-11 guard Kyles Lao came down with an ankle injury in the second quarter and is listed as day-to-day by team doctors.

With that, the spotlight turned on Heading, who overcame a sluggish shooting against Indonesia. He had six points in the opening period and 10 at the half before uncorking all 12 markers in the fourth period.  Correspondent Jonas Panerio