MANILA, Philippines – Batang Gilas ran into a wall that is powerhouse China and suffered a humiliating 49-91 defeat that sent it back to Earth in the FIBA-Asia Under-18 Championship at the Al-Gharafa Gym in Doha, Qatar Sunday.
The taller, heftier Chinese emerged the more dominant force in every aspect as they sent the Filipinos reeling to their second defeat against the same number wins while silencing the pre-dominantly Filipino crowd that packed the 3,000-capacity venue.
Zhao Rui bulldozed his way to a game-high 25 points as he made 10 of his 13 shots inside while adding eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal while Yang Kai, Zou Yuchen, Sun Minghul and Shao Yinglun chipped in 14, 13, 11 and 11 points, respectively.
China used its superior height to dominate the boards by a whopping, 57-29, and the blocks department, 8-2, and constantly pounded its way through to get the line 28 times making 21 free throws as against the Phl's five trips connecting only on three.
Their long-armed Chinese defenders also made life miserable for the Filipinos not only inside but also in the perimeter where the latter missed 30 of the 34 three-point shots they attempted.
So punishing was the defense of China that none from the Phl scored in double figures with Brandrey Bienes coming the closest with nine points.
But it gets a little sunnier from there as Batang Gilas, whose trip is being bankrolled by MVP Sports Foundation and Smart, takes on lighter Malaysian side, which made history by shocking Jordan, 64-57, and barging into the quarterfinals, in its last second round assignment.
The Filipinos already barged into the quarters the day before by rallying to edge host Qatar, 82-79.