Gilas Youth pulls away from Qatar to stay unbeaten in Fiba Asia U18

Gilas U18’s Mason Amos. –FIBA BASKETBALL

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas youth team caught fire in the second half to trounce Qatar, 77-61, for its second win in Group C of the Fiba U18 Asian Championship on Monday at Azadi Basketball Hall in Tehran, Iran.

Mason Amos sustained his fine play, showing the way with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go with seven rebounds to keep the national youth team unbeaten in the first two games.

When Gilas was holding a precarious 54-48 lead entering the final quarter, the 6-foot-7 Amos unleashed seven points of his team’s 12-1 run before he was subbed out at the 7:03 mark and James Nacua capped the rally with a layup for a 66-49 lead with 6:52 remaining.

The young Filipinos never looked back and even led as many as 17 points after Prince Ray Alao’s jumper for a  70-53 spread with 5:10 to go.

Jared Bahay chipped in 15 points, three rebounds, and three steals. Joshua Caleb Coronel had nine points, while Kyle Gamber and Earl Abadam added seven markers each as Alao dished out seven dimes and grabbed six boards.

Gilas Youth, which opened its campaign with a 112-48 blowout of Syria, battles fellow unbeaten team Chinese Taipei (2-0) on Tuesday with the latter coming off an 81-60 victory over Syria earlier.

The Qataris kept the Filipinos within striking distance leading by one at the half, 35-34, and maintained the gap in the third quarter 41-40 before the Philippines unleashed a 12-1 run capped by Gamber’s layup for a 52-42 advantage.

Mohammed Hashim Abbasher led Qatar with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.

Moustapha Ndao also scored 14, while Hamad Yassin Mousa had 11 markers and 11 boards as they suffered their second straight loss in as many games.

The Scores:

PHILIPPINES 77 — Amos 19, Bahay 15, Coronel 9, Gamber 7, Abadam 7, Demisana 6, Abadam 5, Pablo 4, Gagate 4, Alao 2, Nacua 2, Andres 2, Porter 0.

QATAR 61 — Abbasher 14, Mou. Ndao 14, Mousa 11, Moh. Ndao 7, Alnabawy 6, Abuissa 6, Al-Abdulla 3, Hajar 0, Radi 0.

Quarters: 24-18, 34-35, 54-48, 77-61.