Australia advances to Fiba Asia U18 final; Philippines plays China for bronze

Kai Sotto vs Australian defenders. Photo from fiba.basketball

Australia took the fight out of the Philippines in the second period before racing to a 77-43 victory in the semifinals of the Fiba Asia U18 tournament Friday in Thailand.

Australia scored the first eight points in the second period after a tight opening quarter before Callum Dalton nailed a couple of triples and Kody Stattman joined in the scoring fray to produce a strong finishing kick to the first half and build a 44-20 cushion.

READ: Philippines holds off China to stay perfect in Fiba U18

After staying within two at the start of the second quarter, Batang Gilas came undone when it could not hit a basket for three minutes. By the time Kai Sotto scored a putback off a Dave Ildefonso miss, Australia had already found its rhythm.

Australia will face New Zealand in the final after the Kiwis rode on a triple-double from Flynn Cameron to oust China, 87-82.

Cameron completed the tournament’s first triple double after finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Batang Gilas, which has already secured a slot in Fiba U19 World Cup, will face China for the bronze medal on Saturday.

AJ Edu led the Philippines with nine points and 10 rebounds while Gerry Austin Abadiano added eight points. Kai Sotto was held to just two points and had eight rebounds.