After getting a 30-point drubbing, Batang Gilas Pilipinas sets out as the favorite when it clashes with Hong Kong on Thursday in the 2018 Fiba Asia U-16 Championship at Foshan Lingnan Mingzhu gym in China.
The Filipinos will come into their 1 p.m. clash with Hong Kong still reeling from an 82-52 loss to Australia on Wednesday and they would need to win to seal a place in the quarterfinals, where they will face either Japan or South Korea, which were disputing top ranking in Group D.
The Philippines beat Malaysia, 62-57, despite shooting just 27 percent from the field in the inaugurals on Monday.
Focus will be on the 7-foot-1 Kai Sotto, who was held to nine-points and four rebounds by the Aussies, pulling down his averages to 11.5 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks in the tourney.
AUSTRALIA 82 — Rantall 15, Williamson 14, Travers 11, Capetola 9, Herbert 8, Wigness 8, Swaka 7, Jackson 6, Madden 2, Meakes 2, Tsapatolis 0.
PHILIPPINES 52 — Guadaña 11, Calimag 10, Sotto 9, Andrada 8, Padrigao 5, Fortea 4, Cortez 2, Lazaro 2, Chiu 1, Balaga 0, Bautista 0, Go 0.
Quarters: 18-13, 38-25, 62-40, 82-52.