Philippines nips Kazakhstan to kick off Fiba Asia U16 campaign

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Philippines kicked off its 2013 Fiba Asia Under 16 campaign with a 90-88 nipping of Kazakhstan at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran, Iran.

Michael Dela Cruz led the Filipinos with 19 points off the bench, while Andres Paul Desiderio added 16 points and seven boards and Richard Escoto, 10 points and 19 rebounds.

The Philippine team, which even slightly outrebounded the Kazakhs, 49-48, and performed better in the paint, snatched the lead with 3:13 left to play on a two- pointer from Escoto.

And the Filipinos held on to that slim advantage down the stretch with Kazakhstan missing crucial freethrows and three-pointers.

Next on the Philippines’ agenda in the preliminary round is Chinese-Taipei.

Leonid Voronushkin had four triples for game-high 28 points, but in a losing cause for Kazakhstan.