Gilas boys survive Indonesian challenge

Gilas Pilipinas Youth passed its first real test when it edged Indonesia, 77-68, in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers late Wednesday at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

Prince Cariño paced the scoring parade while Travis Pascual and Jolo Pascual delivered solid numbers for the Filipinos, who remain unbeaten in four matches heading into their final elimination round battle against Malaysia late Thursday.

Should they prevail, they will meet the second-best team of the tournament, probably the Indonesians, in a sudden-death finale on Friday.

Despite flirting with disaster, Gilas coach LA Tenorio lauded his wards, saying that they displayed composure down the stretch.

“I feel great. You know why? Because I wanted the boys to experience those kinds of things,” Tenorio said, adding that their discipline and tough defense were truly impressive.

“I reminded them that we may have crushed our opponents, but it’s really our discipline and defense that brought us here. Today, we shied away from our system and got an idea of who tough this tournament is.”

True enough, winning over Indonesia, which entered the match with a perfect 3-0 slate, wasn’t easy.

After posting a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, 64-49, the mettle of the home squad was greatly tested with the Indonesians waged a 9-0 rally capped by a pullup jumper by Seiya Yabe.

Pascual’s layup pushed the Philippines’ lead to seven, 65-58, but Miracle Christiano’s triple cut the lead to just four, 61-65, with 4:36 left.

Everaigne Cruz restored order by dropping a three-pointer before Gab de los Reyes and Cariño scored back-to-back baskets to give Gilas a 72-61 lead with 2:35 remaining.