Gilas boys get crushed by Lithuania in Fiba U17 World Cup opener

Gilas Pilipinas boys’ CJ Amos against a Lithuanian defender in the Fiba U17 World Cup. –FIBA BASKETBALL

MANILA, Philippines—Lithuania proved to be too much to handle for the Gilas Pilipinas Boys, scoring a dominant 107-48 win in Group A of the Fiba Under-17 World Cup at Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday (Manila time).

Backed by a strong opening, the Lithuanians dealt the Philippines an insurmountable lead that Gilas couldn’t come close to cutting down for the remainder of the game.

Already holding a 46-29 at the intermission, Lithuania torched the Philippines with a 13-2 run to open the third period capped off by a Majus Bulanovas triple at the 7:34 mark.

 SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba U17 Basketball World Cup

The third quarter was Gilas’ worst frame as the Filipinos only scored seven points while the Lithuanians fired on all cylinders with 35.

Height is might and the Lithuanians showed just that, as they demolished the Philippines in the rebounding department, 61-32.

Lithuania hounded the Gilas boys on defense with 10 steals and eight blocks overall, as a team, limiting the Nationals to a measly 21.9 percent field goal shooting clip while shooting 53.5 percent as a squad.

READ: Kieffer Alas out of Gilas boys roster for Fiba U17 World Cup

With Kieffer Alas out of the lineup due to a knee injury, CJ Amos led the Philippines with 10 points and three assists but to no avail. Kurt Velasquez struggled mightily for his eight points, sinking just three of his 14 tries from the field for Gilas.

Arturas Butajevas finished just a rebound shy of a double-double with 22 points and nine rebounds for Lithuania. Kajus Mikalauskas scored 15 while Erikas Sirgedas and Dovydas Buika finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Up next for the Gilas Boys is Spain at the same venue on Sunday at 8:30 pm.