INQUIRER Sports

THE NOKIA Team Pilipinas overpowered Kazakhstan Friday and Bahrain Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Fiba-Asia U-16 Men?s Championship in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

The Nationals routed Kazakhstan, 76-50, then returned the next day to whip Bahrain, 62-45, and sweep their Group B assignment.

Skipper Kiefer Ravena, who erupted for 25 points in RP?s 64-59 win over Japan Thursday, tossed in 23 against the Kazakhs while Cris Tolomia shone against Bahrain with 27 points.

The Filipinos will face the loser of the Syria-Korea match at the start of the three-game quarterfinals Sunday.

Tolomia, brother of former Ginebra wingman Chester, buried five three-pointers, pulled down three rebounds and had a steal in taking over Ravena?s scoring chores against Bahrain.

Ravena scored eight points, grabbed three rebounds and had two steals for Team Philippines, which is seeking one of two seats to the Fiba U17 World Championships next year in Hamburg, Germany.

?They tried to stop Kiefer but we were ready for it,? said RP coach Eric Altamirano, who drew 36 points from his bench players.

The scores:

First game

RP 76?Ravena 24, Pessumal 11, Pate 9, Romero 8, Sara 6, Ferrer 4, Teng 3, Alolino 3, Bantayan 1, Tolomia 0, Javillonar 0

KAZAKHSTAN 50?Kurochka 16, Zhigulin 11, Orazov 9, Raguyev 5, Morozov 4, Muxotov 3, Marchuk 2, Chshebak 0, Kalliulin 0, Potapov 0, Remkhen 0

Quarters: 16-14, 25-24, 49-37, 76-50

Second game

RP 62?Tolomia 27, Teng 9, Ravena 8, Pate 4, Romero 4, Sara 4, Javillonar 3, Alolino 2, Pessumal 1, Ferrer 0, Bantayan 0

BAHRAIN 45?Mohammed 15, Hussain Mansoor 14, Subah Husain 7, Ahmed Jamal 7, Hasan Ali, 2, Jasim 0, Sayed Ahmed 0, Mohsen 0, Hussain Salman 0, Naser Yousif 0, Abdulla Jaber 0, Ali Hassan 0

Quarters: 9-17, 31-28, 44-37, 62-45