Batang Gilas completes SEABA 4-peat

MANILA, Philippines - Batang Gilas kept its hold of the SEABA Under-16 Championship, stretching its unbeaten run to four as it rapped Malaysia, 83-62, in the closing match of the tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

Six-foot-11 Kai Sotto and his teammates, an assembly of tall, talented young teens, lived up to expectations and stood proud as they took the lead SEABA berth to the 2017 FIBA Asia boys championship.

As second placer and second runner-up, Malaysia (3-1) and Thailand (2-2) are joining Batang Gilas in the Asian meet where the top three qualify to the U-17 World Championship next year.

Sotto and 6-foot-5 John Bismark Lina both logged double-double numbers for the Phl boys who faced a worthy challenge from the Malaysians but still pulled off a lopsided win to complete a SEABA “four-peat” with a flourish.

Coach Mike Oliver’s troops bagged the championship with a whopping average winning margin of 44.25 points. They earlier stamped their class on Singapore, 108-42; bludgeoned Indonesia, 96-73; and shellacked Thailand, 113-46.

Malaysia, also runner-up to the Philippines in 2009, 2013 and 2015, stayed close in the first half but faded as the Phl boys stepped up their attack in the second half.

Sotto shone with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Lina sparkled with 13 markers and 10 boards.

RC Calimag and Terrence Fortea also delivered 15 points, Raven Cortez contributed 13 while Rence Padrigao chipped in 11 rebounds, six assists, five points and two steals.

Batang Gilas played a balanced game in each of its four outings speaking well of their form to compete in the Asian level.

Team Phl was a podium finisher in the first three editions of the Asian U-16 event from 2009-2013.

In 2013 in Tehran, Batang Gilas placed second behind China to advance to the 2014 world joust in Dubai where it finished 15th out of 16 participants.