MANILA – Batang Gilas bowed out of the 2018 FIBA U-17 World Cup after a 62-102 loss to Canada in the round-of-16 on Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila) at the Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario, France.
Matthew Alexander Moncrieffe led Canada with double-double 22 points and 11 rebounds. Benjamin Nathaniel Krikke and Luka Sakota had 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano finished with 19 points for the Philippines. Kai Sotto added 16 points and eight rebounds while Raven Cortez contributed 10 points.
Canada waxed hot early with a 14-0 start courtesy of inside hits by Moncrieffe. Abadiano finally put Batang Gilas on the board with three free throws but Canada pulled away anew with 12-4 run for a 26-7 lead.
The Canadians were not threatened – Moncrieffe, Krikke and Sakota found a way around the defense of Batang Gilas for Canada to lead by as much as 40 points in the second half.
With the defeat, the Philippine U-17 basketball squad of head coach Michael Oliver was relegated to the classification round where it will try to salvage at least a ninth place.
“It was tough but I am proud of how my players responded,” Oliver said. “We will try to salvage at least a ninth place here in the World Cup.”/PN
