PAYBACK | Batang Gilas shocks erstwhile unbeaten China

FIBA
By Ivan Saldajeno

JAKARTA--A month after its senior counterpart fell in the FIBA Asia Championship final, Batang Gilas stunned China.

Batang Gilas completed a late comeback to give its Chinese opposition its first loss of the FIBA Asia U16 Championship at the Britama Arena on Tuesday.

China appeared to be keeping its unbeaten slate intact after opening a five-point cushion, 72-67, with 1:55 remaining.

But three triples highlighted the game-ending 11-0 run by Batang Gilas to overturn the result and giving a vindication of sort to the Gilas first team which lost to China for the seniors title and an outright entry to the Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Gian Mamuyac sizzled for 22 points, three rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks for the RP Youth Team, which finished the two rounds of the preliminary stage at 4-1.

Bai Haotian finished with 21 markers, five caroms, three dimes, and three swats for China, which has never lost in the under-16 tourney since 2009 prior to the Tuesday shocker.

Batang Gilas and China will take on Japan and Kuwait respectively in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Box Scores:

Philippines 78-Mamuyac 22, Belangel 11, Credo 10, Pagsanjan 10, Gomez De Liano 9, Tibayan 7, Gozum 4, Publico 3, Ildefonso 2, Flores 0, Escalona 0

China 72-Bai 21, Zhu 16, R. Wang 13, Wu 9, Zhao 9, Y. Wang 2, Xu 2, Li 0, Han 0

Quarterscores: 13-16, 39-33, 53-52, 78-72