Gilas Youth blasts Malaysia, nears 6th straight SEABA U16 title

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

After being put to the test by Indonesia, Gilas Youth dominates Malaysia from start to finish to complete the five-game elimination round sweep of the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas Youth is one win away from claiming its sixth straight gold in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers.

After being put to the test by Indonesia, the Philippines dominated Malaysia from start to finish, 96-61, to complete the five-game elimination round sweep at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga on Thursday, May 29.

It was another well-rounded attack by the LA Tenorio-mentored Gilas Youth as six players reached double figures in scoring, with Travis Pascual and Jeremiah Antolin both dropping 15 points in their fourth blowout win of the tournament.

Everaigne Cruz and Prince Cariño put together 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Jolo Pascual and Mark Lumague scored 10 apiece for the Philippines, which wasted little time breaking the game wide open with a 28-12 lead at the end of the opening frame.

Malaysia never got to within striking distance again the rest of the way as Gilas Youth eventually led by as many as 39 points late in the fourth quarter, 96-57, off a basket by Lumague.

Still, Tenorio was nowhere satisfied of the win as he feels that his players are not sticking to their system.

“Well, I just have to be really hard on the boys because we’re kind of veering away from our discipline and our system. We’re kind of playing selfishly, maybe because they think that we can easily beat our opponents,” the first-time head coach Tenorio told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino.

“I always tell them that I don’t care about the score because the score will take care of itself. What’s important to me is if we’re doing the right things, if we’re doing the right defensive schemes that we want to do.”

After wrapping up the eliminations with an average winning margin of 40.8 points, Gilas Youth now sets its sights on its gold medal match versus the gritty Indonesians on Friday, May 30 at 7 pm.

Indonesia, the only team to lose by single digits to the Philippines, enters the championship with a 4-1 record after venting its ire on Vietnam earlier today with a 74-51 rout.

The Scores

Philippines 96 – Pascual T. 15, Antolin 15, Cruz 14, Cariño 13,Pascual J. 10, Lumague 10, Miranda 7, Restificar 4, Tan-Chi 2, Delos Reyes 2, Cabañero 2, Hallare 2.

Malaysia 61 – Tan 16, Sing 10, San 8, Gow 8, Daniel 7, Au 3, Lee 3, Lim 2, Sham 2, Tung 0, Tai 0.

Quarters: 28-12, 55-29, 75-46, 96-61.

– Rappler.com