Lorenzo Bryan Competente leads Gilas Pilipinas Youth past Kazakhstan. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Gilas Pilipinas youth team dominated Kazakhstan, 83-60, to reach the quarterfinals of the FIBA U16 Asian Championship on Thursday at Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall.
Lorenzo Bryan Competente led the balanced attack of the U16 national team with 15 points to set a quarterfinals duel against Australia on Friday.
Jacob Bayla chipped in 13 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Kristian Porter had 12 points, while Alex Konov and Zain Mahmood added 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
Caelum Harris delivered five points, nine rebounds and seven assists to bounce back from a previous loss to Japan.
The Kazakhs kept the Filipinos within three, 29-26, in the first eight minutes of the second quarter, but Competente’s triple ignited their second frame rally for a 10-point lead, 43-33.
Porter stretched it to an 18-point spread, 53-35, with 52.6 seconds left at the half.
Gilas led as much as 26 points in the second half and never looked back to gain a chance to fight for a semis spot, which also comes with a ticket for the 2022 Fiba Under-17 World Cup next month.
Daniil Severgin carried Kazakhstan with 24 points, nine rebounds, seven steals, and three assists.
The Scores
PHILIPPINES 83 — Competente 15, Bayla 13, Porter 12, Konov 11, Mahmood 10, Gemao 7, Harris 5, Bahay 4, Jones 3, Nieto 2, Reyes 1, Romero 0.
KAZAKHSTAN 60 — Severgin 24, Dyussenov 17, Kuantayev 10, Mukhazhanov 4, Maksot 3, Marat 2, Aukesh 0, Samoilov 0, Muratuly 0, Khangereyev 0, Aitkulov 0, Yessimkhan 0.
Quarters: 26-17, 53-35, 73-51, 83-60.