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Advocates Philippines
Philippines Breaks 'Korea Curse' In U16 Asian Championship: Joaquin Ludovice Shines In Dominant Win
Photo credit: FIBA Asia Cup
The Philippines' U16 basketball team, known as Batang Gilas, achieved a historic victory yesterday September 21, 2023 in the FIBA U16 Asian Championship, breaking a long-standing curse against Korea.
The standout player of the game, Joaquin Ludovice, led the charge as the Philippines defeated Korea with a score of 95-71, advancing to the Quarter-Finals of the tournament.
Prior to this game, the Philippines had faced Korea multiple times in U16 and U18 competitions, suffering defeat on all nine occasions.
However, the tenth matchup proved to be a charm for the Philippine squad, as they seized control of the game early on and never looked back.
Ludovice scored a combined total of 20 points in the three games leading up to yesterday’s match.
He racked up 19 points in the first half alone, including five three-pointers on six attempts. Ludovice connected on a total of seven three-pointers, tying the U16 Asian Championship record since statistics were officially archived in 2013.
Batang Gilas' proficiency in three-point shooting was a defining factor in their victory. They began the game with a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter and extended it to as much as 34 points, never allowing Korea to close the gap to single-digits.
The Philippines showcased their sharpshooting skills, making 12 out of 26 three-point attempts throughout the game.
Despite Kiefer Alas, the team's leading scorer, being held to 11 points, his teammates stepped up. Kurt Velasquez contributed 17 points, Bonn Daja added 13 points along with 10 rebounds, and CJ Amos chipped in with 10 points.
Korea's captain, Daniel Edi, put up a commendable effort with 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, but his team struggled to find their shooting rhythm, connecting on only 35.7 percent of their field goal attempts.
With this historic victory, the Philippines now advances to the Quarter-Finals, where they will face Japan in a highly anticipated matchup.
The standout player of the game, Joaquin Ludovice, led the charge as the Philippines defeated Korea with a score of 95-71, advancing to the Quarter-Finals of the tournament.
Prior to this game, the Philippines had faced Korea multiple times in U16 and U18 competitions, suffering defeat on all nine occasions.
However, the tenth matchup proved to be a charm for the Philippine squad, as they seized control of the game early on and never looked back.
Ludovice scored a combined total of 20 points in the three games leading up to yesterday’s match.
He racked up 19 points in the first half alone, including five three-pointers on six attempts. Ludovice connected on a total of seven three-pointers, tying the U16 Asian Championship record since statistics were officially archived in 2013.
Batang Gilas' proficiency in three-point shooting was a defining factor in their victory. They began the game with a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter and extended it to as much as 34 points, never allowing Korea to close the gap to single-digits.
The Philippines showcased their sharpshooting skills, making 12 out of 26 three-point attempts throughout the game.
Despite Kiefer Alas, the team's leading scorer, being held to 11 points, his teammates stepped up. Kurt Velasquez contributed 17 points, Bonn Daja added 13 points along with 10 rebounds, and CJ Amos chipped in with 10 points.
Korea's captain, Daniel Edi, put up a commendable effort with 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, but his team struggled to find their shooting rhythm, connecting on only 35.7 percent of their field goal attempts.
With this historic victory, the Philippines now advances to the Quarter-Finals, where they will face Japan in a highly anticipated matchup.
Sep 22, 2023
