RP U-18 five bounces back, whips Japanese

Embarrassed  by host Yemen, the Philippines bounced back to pin a first loss on Japan with a 75-57 rout Sunday in the Fiba Asia Under-18 championship in Sana’a. The Filipinos led all the way, taking a 44-28 lead at halftime and 61-45 midway in the last quarter as they tied Yemen for third place in their six-team group with 2-2 records.

Yemen, surprise 76-69 conqueror of the Philippines Saturday, took a 77-51 whipping from China, which remained unbeaten in four games. Japan dropped to second at 3-1 with Syria and Iraq bringing up the rear. The top two teams from this group will join their counterparts from the other bracket in the semifinals. 
The top semifinalists will collide for the title with the winner of the duel for third also joining the two finalists in the Fiba Under-19 world championship next year in Latvia. Kiefer Ravena finished with 18 points and Raphael Banal added 14 as the Filipinos shot 53 percent from the field. 
Roldan Sara contributed nine, Kyle Nieves and Jeth Rosario had eight apiece, Kevin Ferrer chipped in seven and  Jeron Teng put in four points and the same number of rebounds. The Filipinos opened the game with a 7-0 spurt and stayed in control before the Japanese edged to within a point at the end of the first period, 16-15. Japan caught up at 18-all on a triple by Seiya Ando but the Filipinos quickly shattered the tie to pull ahead at 25-18 before a 10-1 run capped by a three-pointer by Von Rolfe Passumal stretched the margin to 44-28. From 55-43 at the end of the third period, the Filipinos stormed farther away at 61-45 on a triple by Sara and a Banal jumper. Powerhouse China continued to dominate the tournament with the carryover system with 4 wins and no defeat thus far.