Energen Pilipinas U16 Youth Team blasts Indonesia, earns Fiba Asia slot

BANTING CITY, MALAYSIA—The Energen Pilipinas Under-16 Youth Team pummeled an Indonesian squad that was expected to put up a tough fight, 109-46, Wednesday night to stay as the only unbeaten team in the 1st Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) U16 for Men at the Kuala Langat Gym here.

The Nationals, with the backcourt duo of Rev Diputado and Hubert Cani bearing the scoring load, limited the Indonesians to three points in the first quarter and stormed to a second win that assured them a Fiba Asia U16 slot.

“I told them our mission is to qualify, but that’s not the only thing we’re here for,” said coach Olsen Racela.

“We’re here to win the tournament, so two more games. But this is the way we want to play. Everything went well, we played good defense.”

The Philippines takes on Laos at 2 p.m. today and shoots for a sweep against Singapore at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

The second and third placers will also qualify to the Fiba Asia tournament on Oct. 18 to 28 in Nha Trang City, Vietnam.

Cani fired eight of his 19 points in a 22-0 start by the Filipinos while Diputado finished with 20 points built on an impressive 8-of-12 clip.

“Hubert and Rev are really good [scorers], but more than that, they’re good defensive players as well,” said Racela. “I think these guys showed the level of talent we have in the Philippines against our Southeast Asian counterparts.”

Indonesia dropped to 1-1 in a tie with Singapore, which downed Laos, 108-70, in the other game.

“We know Indonesia is strong, so I’m also surprised that they only had three points in the first quarter, ” said Racela.

Arvin Tolentino, who had 16 points in the Philippines’ 91-64 drubbing of host Malaysia on Tuesday night, delivered anew with 19 and five rebounds.

Daryl Pascual registered the game’s lone double-double with 13 points and 12 boards.

The Philippines made 7-of-15 from three-point range, including 3 of 3 by Tolentino and 2-2 by Diputado.

The scores:
PHILIPPINES 109—Diputado 20, Cani 19, Tolentino 19, Pascual 13, Lao 9, Vito 8, Asilum 6, Brill 5, Tongco 4, Javelosa 4, Babilonia 2.
INDONESIA 46—Purwoko 9, Abraham 9, Kosasih 8, Istiadi 7, Kokodiputro 6, Fahdan 4, Sandy 3, Saputra 0, Rejenoka 0, Yogia 0, Airawan 0 Setiawan 0.
Quarters: 22-3, 45-21, 75-32, 109-46