Youth caging: Energen Pilipinas drubs Malaysia, faces Indonesia next

BANTING CITY, MALAYSIA—The Energen Pilipinas Under-16 Youth team didn’t exactly play the system coach Olsen Racela wanted but still got away with a 91-64 rout of host Malaysia at the start of the 1st Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) U16 for Men Tuesday night.

Despite sloppy play in some stretches, the Nationals charged to a 15-4 start and preserved a double-digit advantage the rest of the way at the Kuala Langat gym here.

“We didn’t play the way I want them to play,” said Racela, San Miguel’s former topnotch PBA guard. “The lead should have been bigger, but understandably, it’s just the first game.”

Arvin Tolentino, a 6-foot-3 San Beda standout, came off the bench to finish with a game-high 16 points and seven rebounds for the title-favorite Filipinos.

Gelo Vito also got the nationals off to a hot start by burying seven of his 13 points in the first five minutes.

The Philippines and Indonesia, which drubbed Singapore, 101-68, in the other game, were disputing the solo lead at presstime last night.

“I expect this team to improve gradually,” said Racela. “The thing with this team is we can match up with any kind of lineup, whether it’s big, small, fast or pressing teams. So it’s no different with Indonesia, we can match up.”

Radge Tongco and Kyles Lao, who teamed up for 21 markers for the Philippines, helped extend the lead to 18 points, 44-26, as the Malaysians struggled on 7-of-38 shooting in the first two quarters.

The Malaysians, mentored by Australian coach Greg Gurr, couldn’t get any closer than 12 points, 59-47, late in the third period. Zhi Hao Tan led the host with 13 points.

“The officiating wasn’t really that good, but the players played through it,” said Racela. “We were expecting that. So the players were still focused on the game.”

The five-nation tournament serves as a qualifier for the Fiba Asia U16 tournament on Oct. 18 to 28 in Vietnam.

“Our players have seen the opponents (after the opener), so they know the competition,” said Racela. “We expect them to play better.”

The scores:
PHILIPPINES 91—Tolentino 16, Vito 13, Tongco 11, Lao 10, Javelosa 7, Cani 7, Diputado 7, Asilum 5, Brill 5, Pascual 4, Babilonia 4, Murphy 2.
MALAYSIA 64—Tan Z. 13, Tan H. 10, Chua 7, Su 6, Foo 6, Keng 6, Tong 6, Sim 5, Sarjit 5, Ng 0, Yew 0, Lew 0.
Quarters: 23-9, 44-26, 67-49, 91-64