Edu, Panopio shine as Batang Gilas wallops Lebanon

MANILA, Philippines – AJ Edu and Dolph Panopio lived up to hype on their first team-up with Kai Sotto and Batang Gilas as they pounded a hapless Lebanon, 75-53, to jumpstart its campaign in the 2018 FIBA-Asia Under-18 Championship at the Studio 29 in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday night.

The 6-10 Edu, a Fil-Nigerian now studying at University of Toledo in Ohio, United States, had 17 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. Panopio, a guard who declined Italy’s offer to join its youth team for a chance to play for the Philippines, was equally impressive with 12 points, four boards, six assists and three steals.

It was a pair of efforts that boded well for a Philippine team eyeing nothing less than one of the four slots to the FIBA U19 World Cup at a still unspecified venue next year.

Edu and Panopio teamed up well with the 7-1 Sotto, who himself was solid with 12 points, eight caroms and a block.

Dave Ildefonso paced the squad with 19 points, the bulk of which came in the first half when they made their move.

Led by the vaunted Sotto-Edu frontcourt, the Filipinos shackled the Lebanese to a 31-percent shooting clip after the latter missed 49 of the 71 shots they attempted.

The Josh Reyes-mentored Nationals also dominated the boards, 61-36. It helped that Raven Cortez and Miguel Oczon pulled down nine and seven caroms, respectively.

Batang Gilas is expected to destroy United Arab Emirates in their game being played at press time after the latter was massacred by powerhouse China, 118-27, in the opener.

The Philippines will close out Group B action in a much-awaited clash with China, which is out to regain the title it last won four years ago in Doha, Qatar after finishing a disappointing fifth in the last staging two years back in Tehran, Iran, at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.

The scores:

Batang Gilas 75 – Ildefonso 19, Edu 17, Panopio 12, Sotto 12, Ramirez 5, Amsali 5, Cortez 2, Chiu 2, Abadiano 1, Oczon 0, Torres 0, Lina 0

Lebanon 53 – Zanbaka 12, Kopaly 9, Dargham 7, Bedikian 6, Kasab 6, Htait 5, Khoueiry 3, Khayat 2, Mougharbel 2, Saade 1, Samaha 0, Karime 0

Quarterscores: 25-15; 41-33; 59-41; 75-53