Gilas Youth advances to FIBA U16 Asia Cup qualification to quarterfinals

Gilas Pilipinas Youth's title hopes in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup remained alive after they advanced to the qualification phase for the quarterfinals.

The Filipinos secured their spot after Chinese Taipei escaped Indonesia on Tuesday night, allowing the Philippines to finish third in Group B with a 1-2 record.

The top seed of each group advanced directly to the quarterfinals while the second and third placed teams booked places in the qualification games for the quarters.

New Zealand dominated the group with a perfect 3-0 slate, while Chinese Taipei settled for second at 2-1. Indonesia, meanwhile, bowed out winless at 0-3.

Earlier in the day, Gilas Youth absorbed an 85-54 blowout loss to New Zealand. But thanks to Chinese Taipei’s 107-102 triumph over Indonesia, the Filipinos stayed in the hunt in the tournament.

Gilas now takes a one-day break on Wednesday before taking on Group A second-placer Bahrain on Thursday with the winner advancing to the top 8 to square off with undefeated China. 

—JMB, GMA Integrated News