Gilas Youth falls to Korea in FIBA Asia U-16 classification round

The Gilas Pilipinas Under-16 national team fell short against Korea, 88-77, in the classification round of the FIBA U-16 Asian Championship on Saturday at the Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall in Qatar.

With the loss, the Philippine team was relegated to the classification game for 7th and 8th place, where they will play the loser of the game between Iran and India.

Jared Bahay scored 25 points to lead the Filipinos while Zain Mahmood and Caelum Harris both finished in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Ku Mingyo led the Koreans with team-highs of 21 points and seven assists while Lee Yujin scored 17 points on a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and 3-for-3 from three-point range.

The Koreans led by seven, 39-32, at the half and opened up a double-digit in the third quarter before the Filipinos went on an 8-2 run that got them back to as close as four points, 61-57, at the end of the third. 

That was as close as they would get, though, as Gilas was outscored, 27-20, in the final period.

—JMB, GMA News