RP Youth 5 finishes 7th in Fiba-Asia tourney, best finish since ’98

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines found some consolation on the final day of the Fiba-Asia Youth Basketball Championship after the Nationals humbled Lebanon 74-63 Friday night in Tehran. The RP squad’s victory not only avenged an earlier loss to the same team, but it also secured seventh place for the Filipinos, the country’s best finish in the tournament in 10 years. Mark de Guzman scored 15 points, RR Garcia added 14 and the Philippines went on a 12-2 run to start the second quarter and foil the Lebanese’ repeated rallies. "They are young and full of talent. I'm sure they'll be able to correct those mistakes as they mature and play longer as a team," said coach Derek Pumaren, who took over the team after his brother and head coach Franz Pumaren returned to Manila to be on the sidelines in La Salle’s game versus Ateneo. Lebanon defeated the Philippines 87-84 in the group stages on a last-second three-pointer. The RP squad is set to arrive in the country Sunday. Iran won the championship after the hosts beat Kazakhstan 95-76. Syria settled for the bronze after it won over Japan 93-86. – GMANews.TV