Gilas Youth beats Iran for 7th place in Fiba Asia U16

Gilas Pilipinas Youth Alexander Konov reacts during a classification game against Iran. Fiba PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas Youth finished seventh place in the Fiba Under-16 Asian Championship after staving off Iran, 95-87, on Sunday at Al-Gharafa Sports Club multi-purpose hall in Doha, Qatar.

The national team leaned on the troika of Alex Konov, Caelum Harris, and Renzo Competente to end a two-game skid for the seventh place, which is the squad’s worst finish in the tournament since its fifth place in 2015.

Konov delivered 18 points, four assists, and three rebounds, while Harris chipped in 15 points, six boards, three dimes, two blocks, and a steal.

Competente sank four triples for 14 points to bounce back from a 77-88 loss to South Korea in a classification game on Saturday.

Jared Bahay was also instrumental with 13 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while Zain Mahmood added 11 points and five boards.

Gilas Youth finished 1-1 in the elimination round before routing Kazakhstan, 83-60, in a playoff match to reach the quarterfinals, where it lost to Australia, 83-109.

The Filipinos overcame Mohammadamin Khosravi’s 28-point effort. Sarem Jafari and Mohammad Amini also carried the cudgels for Iran.

The Scores:

PHILIPPINES 95—Konov 18, Harris 15, Competente 14, Bahay 13, Mahmood 11, Bayla 9, Porter 7, Gemao 7, Jones 1, Romero 0, Nieto 0, Reyes 0.

IRAN 87—Khosravi 28, Jafari 23, Amini 20, Beygi 6, Gilkalayeh 6, Mirjalalifilabi 4, Kazemizadeh 0, Zahan 0, Heydari 0, Parand 0.

Quarters: 20-18, 39-48, 68-63, 95-87.

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