The Philippines U-16 National Basketball Team made a historic run in the 3rd FIBA Asia U16 Championship held in Iran as they defeated the home team and avenged the previous lost of the Gilas Pilipinas at our home soil during the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
The National basketball team of the Philippines representing the U-16 bracket outrun, outshot and eventually outplayed the hosts Iran in a sweet 79-52 victory in the quarterfinals putting the host team their worst defeat in basketball at their home court, it was Iran’s first lost in a knock-out FIBA games in hosted by the basketball powerhouse.
The victory of the Philippines is their third successive entry to the semi-finals after topping the SEABA championship, they will meet the Chinese Taipei U-16 squad in the semi-finals of the FIBA Asia U16 Championship.
The Filipinos U-16 squad was really motivated with the defeat of the Gilas Pilipinas last August and they proved that they could turn the favor to the Philippines. Jojo Lorenzo Mendoza led the Philippines with his high octane offense contributing 16 points with 7 of them coming in the first half.
Aside from Mendoza, Carlo Abadeza made some valuable contributions as he scored on the paint three times in a row and made a follow up shot after Anders Desiderio converted an offensive rebounds as the Philippines rallied on 12 unanswered points midway through the second quarter. The Philippines U-16 squad is coach by Michael Ray Jarin.
