FIBA: Gilas Youth stuns Japan to clinch World Cup berth

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<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='The Gilas Pilipinas Youth celebrates after their triumph over Japan in the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship. FIBA.' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/09/23/092323_fiba-u16_phi.jpg' ><figcaption>The Gilas Pilipinas Youth celebrates after their triumph over Japan in the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship. <em>FIBA.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>Gilas Pilipinas is headed to the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.</p><p>This, after they stunned Japan, 64-59, in the quarterfinals of the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship early Sunday morning (Manila time) behind a star-making performance from Kieffer Alas.</p><p>Alas had a game-high 29 points -- 14 in the pivotal third period -- as the Gilas Under-16 squad booked a place in the semifinals of the tournament in Doha, Qatar.</p><p>All semifinalists also punched tickets to next year's U17 World Cup in Turkiye.</p><p>The Philippines trailed 35-25 against Japan but they turned the tables in the third frame, when they out-scored Japan 21-10. Alas was unstoppable in the period, while Joaquin Ludovice -- the hero of their win against South Korea -- put them ahead entering the final quarter with a triple, 46-45.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/20/23/gilas-youth-korea-set-to-clash-after-ph-routs-malaysia'>Gilas Youth, Korea set to clash after Philippines routs Malaysia</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/19/23/fiba-asia-u16-gilas-boys-get-back-on-track-rout-kazakhstan'>FIBA Asia U16: Gilas Boys get back on track, rout Kazakhstan</a></li></ul><p>Ludovice's triple gave the Gilas Youth the momentum they needed, and they made the biggest plays down the stretch to hold off Japan. Alas assisted on back-to-back buckets by Bonn Daja to give the Gilas Youth a 64-59 lead with under a minute left, and their defense held firm the rest of the way.</p><p>Alas added nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal to his statline, while Ludovice had 11 points and Kurt Velasquez added 10 points. </p><p>Shogo Takata led Japan with 12 points, but they were forced to a paltry 3-of-30 shooting from long distance and just 32.5% overall. They had a 58-36 rebounding advantage, but also committed 19 turnovers that led to 20 points for the Gilas Youth.</p><p>Gilas Youth advanced to play Australia in the semifinals, while New Zealand and China face off in the other bracket.</p><p><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/x_Vk07-mVk0?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>All semifinalists also punched tickets to next year's U17 World Cup in Turkiye.</p><p>The Philippines trailed 35-25 against Japan but they turned the tables in the third frame, when they out-scored Japan 21-10. Alas was unstoppable in the period, while Joaquin Ludovice -- the hero of their win against South Korea -- put them ahead entering the final quarter with a triple, 46-45.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/20/23/gilas-youth-korea-set-to-clash-after-ph-routs-malaysia'>Gilas Youth, Korea set to clash after Philippines routs Malaysia</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/19/23/fiba-asia-u16-gilas-boys-get-back-on-track-rout-kazakhstan'>FIBA Asia U16: Gilas Boys get back on track, rout Kazakhstan</a></li></ul><p>Ludovice's triple gave the Gilas Youth the momentum they needed, and they made the biggest plays down the stretch to hold off Japan. Alas assisted on back-to-back buckets by Bonn Daja to give the Gilas Youth a 64-59 lead with under a minute left, and their defense held firm the rest of the way.</p><p>Alas added nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal to his statline, while Ludovice had 11 points and Kurt Velasquez added 10 points. </p><p>Shogo Takata led Japan with 12 points, but they were forced to a paltry 3-of-30 shooting from long distance and just 32.5% overall. They had a 58-36 rebounding advantage, but also committed 19 turnovers that led to 20 points for the Gilas Youth.</p><p>Gilas Youth advanced to play Australia in the semifinals, while New Zealand and China face off in the other bracket.</p><p><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/x_Vk07-mVk0?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>This, after they stunned Japan, 64-59, in the quarterfinals of the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship early Sunday morning (Manila time) behind a star-making performance from Kieffer Alas.</p><p>Alas had a game-high 29 points -- 14 in the pivotal third period -- as the Gilas Under-16 squad booked a place in the semifinals of the tournament in Doha, Qatar.</p>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='The Gilas Pilipinas Youth celebrates after their triumph over Japan in the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship. FIBA.' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/09/23/092323_fiba-u16_phi.jpg' ><figcaption>The Gilas Pilipinas Youth celebrates after their triumph over Japan in the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship. <em>FIBA.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p><br>Gilas Pilipinas is headed to the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.</p>

FIBA: Gilas Youth stuns Japan to clinch World Cup berth | ABS-CBN News

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FIBA: Gilas Youth stuns Japan to clinch World Cup berth

FIBA: Gilas Youth stuns Japan to clinch World Cup berth