Nokia RP U-18 thumps Japan

SANA’A, Yemen—The Nokia RP U-18 team bounced back from two stinging
wins to bamboozle Japan, 75,57, on Sunday to boost further its bid for
the eight-team quarterfinals of the 21st FIBA Asia U18 Championship at
the 22nd May Arena here.
The Filipinos, backed by Nokia Philippines and TAO Corporation, tore
the game wide open by outscoring the Japanese, 25-8, in the midway
through the game to nail a 2-2 record and hand the Japanese their very
first loss in the tournament with a 3-1 record. China still lords it
over the Group F standings with an impeccable 3-0 mark as the
Philippines now carry a 2-2 record.
The Philippines was scheduled to battle winless Iraq at 4 pm (Manila
time) yesterday to cement its position as the third placing team in
the group, ahead of Yemen (2-1), The top four teams will get into the
knockout quarterfinals against the four qualifiers from Group E.
With a lock at the top three slots in the other group at Korea (3-1),
Iran (3-1) and Lebanon (2-1), while the last slot is still a tossup
among Kazakshtan and Chinese-Taipei.
Kiefer Ravena topscored for the Philippines with 18 points while
Raphael Banal chipped in with 14, nine of those coming from rainbow
country as the team shot 45 percent from there ( 9 of 20 tries) while
hitting 31 of 58 shots from the field.
“It was good those shots went in early in the game,” Philippines coach
Eric Altamirano said. “I’m proud the way boys began with speed,
especially after two tiring games (against China and Yemen, both of
which Philippines lost).”
“What made me really pleased was the way we kept our intensity,” he said.
The Filipinos were hanging to a 32-25 lead in the first five minutes
of the second quarter when Ravena scored back-to-back baskets on the
paint to start a run, which was capped by Von Pessumal’s three-pointer
for 16-point lead at half time.
With Ravena, Jeth Rosario and Cris Toloma scoring at will, the
Philippines widened its lead a 55-33, the highest in the game.
Seiya Ando scored a game-high 22 points for Japan.
“I liked the way we dominated the game, considering that it was really
close last time around,” said Altamirano, whose team only defeated the
same Japan team, 64-59, in the last year’s FIBA Asia U16 Championship
at Johor Bahru.
The tournament dangles three tickets to the 2011 FIBA U19 World
Championship to be played in Latvia next year.(pr)