Error-hit Batang Gilas yield to South Koreans

Batang Gilas kept the game close for three quarters but sagged and collapsed through errors and turnovers and suffered a 69-87 defeat to South Korea in the FIBA-Asia Under-18 Championship at the Al-Gharafa Gym in Doha, atar yesterday.

The Filipinos fell behind by six in the opening quarter but stayed within striking distance by matching the Koreans 22-point output in the second and barely yielding the third, 15-16. But they lost their poise and touch in the fourth, enabling the Koreans to outscore them, 26-15, and run away with the victory.

The Koreans also pounced on the Filipinos’ erratic finish, scoring 23 points off turnovers, including 14 on the break, as they took the top spot in Group B. Batang Gilas, which settled for No. 2, turned the ball over 23 times.

Ranbill Tongco of San Beda put in his second 24-point effort while Mark Anthony Dyke of National U finished with a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds.

But Batang Gilas, who toppled a taller Jordanians, 85-60, Wednesday, just didn’t have an answer to the troika of Kim Kyungwom, Song Kyochang and Kwon Hyeok Joon, who led the Koreans’ attack by firing 17 points apiece.

The bullstrong Kim also hauled down 15 rebounds and came through seven blocks, both game-highs, while Song and Kwon combined for 11 boards, nine assists and six steals.

But it was their errors that stymied the Filipinos’ bid to repeat over the Koreans, whom they beat in last year’s FIBA-Asia U-16 Championship in Iran that booked them a slot in the FIBA U17 Championship in Dubai recently.