Batang Gilas routs Thais, shoots for Seaba U-16 title vs Malaysia

Mclaude Guadaña. PBA IMAGES

Buoyed by its balanced attack, Batang Gilas Pilipinas collected its third straight victory with a 113-46 demolition of Thailand Wednesday in the 2017 Seaba Under-16 Championship at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

RC Calimag got things going early, scoring 12 of his 20 points in the first half to spark the blowout.

Raf Go had a strong second half to finish with 20 points, 13 boards, and two blocks while Mclaude Guadaña added 16 points, six assists, and three rebounds.

Rence Padrigao almost tallied a triple-double for the undefeated Philippines as he finished with 13 points, eight assists, and eight steals.

More than anything, coach Mike Oliver applauded the way Batang Gilas defended in the game as it held Thailand to just 27 percent shooting from the field.

“I’m happy because we had a better defense. Last game, we relaxed after the first half but that wasn’t the case this time,” he said.

The Philippines now shifts its focus on Thursday’s game against Malaysia in a match that will decide the champion.

Thannatorn Kamwised carried the Thais with nine points and four rebounds.

Thailand still has a chance to grab the final ticket in the 2017 Fiba Under-16 Asian Championship with a win over Singapore on Thursday.

Darryl Sebastian. PBA IMAGES

In the first game, Indonesia used a strong second half spurt to clip Singapore, 75-67, for its first win.

Darryl Sebastian orchestrated the Indonesians’ third quarter blast, unloading five of his 17 points in the frame, on top of five rebounds, as they went on a 10-1 start to take a 46-35 lead.

The lead further ballooned to 16, 65-49, before team captain Bryan Teo led a late fightback for the Singaporeans.

Time, however, wasn’t on Singapore’s side as Philippines-born David Chuabio’s three, which cut the lead to six, 73-67, with 9.0 seconds left, came a little too late.

Kotaro Hans added 15 points and two rebounds, while Arrigom Fernanda had 10 off the bench for Indonesia.

Teo led winless Singapore (0-3) with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Tor Lok Yao had 14 points, three boards, and three steals.

The scores:

First Game:

INDONESIA 75 — Sebastian 17, Hans 15, Fernanda 10, Tarigan 7, Olindo 6, Bonfilio 5, Fawwaz 5, Patiara 4, Robert 2, Hady 2, Alexander 1, Linduaji 1.

SINGAPORE 67 — T. Teo 16, Tor 14, Chuabio 11, Adam 9, Amado 6, Chin 5, Lacsado 2, Z. Teo 2, Li 2, Tan 0.

Quarters: 20-9, 36-34, 59-46, 75-67.

Second Game:

PHILIPPINES 113 – Go 20, Calimag 20, Guadana 16, Padrigao 13, Cortez 10, Chiu 10, Sotto 6, Lina 6, Pascual 5, Lazaro 5, Fortea 2, Tan 0.

THAILAND 46 – Kamwised 9, Kinnaret 8, Wadman 6, Preechatiwong 4, Chayapiwat 4, Homthuanlom 4, Preechahan 4, Buakaw 3, Iabsap 3, Boateng 1, Srangthao 0, Rattanawiwatpong 0.

Quarters: 32-13, 63-25, 85-40, 113-46.