Energen Pilipinas vents ire on Lebanon

MANILA, Philippines - Energen Pilipinas clawed back from its heartbreaking quarterfinal loss to South Korea the night and vented its ire on Lebanon, 80-69, in the consolation round of the 22nd FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship at the Buyant Ukhaa Arena in Ulan Bator, Mongolia yesterday.

With their semifinal hopes dashed by a stinging 77-90 setback to the Koreans, the Filipinos kept their composure as they dominated the Lebanese from start to finish to arrange a duel for fifth place with Chinese Taipei, the same team the former beat in the second round.

The Filipinos not only are looking to repeat over the Taiwanese, who lost to the Japanese in their quarters duel today, but also to match their predecessors’ fifth place in the last Asia U-18 tilt in Sana’A, Yemen.

Mario Bonleon, a La Salle-Greenhills standout, led Energen with 19 points on an impressive eight-of-16 shooting clip on his return since missing three straight games with a sprained ankle.

Rey Nambatac, the reigning NCAA high school MVP, scattered 12 points while co-skipper Rodolfo Alejandro chipped in 10 to help the Filipinos snare this win.

Their best big man in Jay Javelosa got injured in the first half of the Korea game and was a non-factor in succeeding games.

That loss zapped the hopes of the Nationals, who swept the SEABA U-18 in Singapore last month, in nailing one of the three berths in the 2013 FIBA World Under-19 Championship in Prague, Czech Republic.

Beating Chinese Taipei, which lost to Energen but wound up finishing second going into the playoffs, for fifth place will not be that bad considering the country has brought an undersized team.