Korea trips Batang Gilas in FIBA Asia U16

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine national under-16 men’s basketball team faltered against South Korea, 77-74, in the second round of the 2015 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship on Monday, November 2 at the Britama Arena in Indonesia.

Forward Hyunjung Lee posted a game-high 22 points and was 9-of-19 from the field as one of 4 Korea starters who played the entire 40-minute ballgame.

Six-foot-6 twin towers Minsuk Shin and Jae Min Yang finished with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Shin added 15 rebounds while guard Dong Jun Kim chipped in 12 points as Korea tied the Philippines at second place in Group F with a 3-1 record.

Guards Gian Mamuyac, forward Jonas Tibayan and Kris Pagsanjan led Batang Gilas’ last-ditch rally as they conspired to trim a 10-point deficit early in the fourth to just 73-72 with 2:13 remaining.

But Korea converted a shot from downtown to squash the Philippines’ momentum and stretch the lead to 76-72 with over a minute left. Jason Credo scored on a jumper to make it just a 76-74 affair with 10 seconds to go but Dong Jun Kim split from the line and Samjosef Belangel missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer for the final spread.

Mamuyac topscored for Batang Gilas with 18 points including 5 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and 5 blocks. Tibayan contributed a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Pagsanjan and Belangel had 15 and 11 points, respectively, in the Philippines’ first loss of the tournament after dominating its first 3 outings.

Batang Gilas next takes on the undefeated China on Tuesday, November 3. – Rappler.com