Gilas Pilipinas Youth team used a huge third quarter flurry to beat Iran, 95-87, and wrap up its FIBA U16 Asian Championship on a winning note at the Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall in Doha, Qatar on Sunday June 19.
The Filipino dribblers trailed by as big as 13 points before they leaned on a 29-15 third quarter outburst to turn things around and stave off an Iranian rally in the waning minutes to secure the seventh place finish in the tournament.
Five Gilas players scored in twin digits led by Alexander Konov who unloaded 18 points, four assists and three rebounds while Caelum Harris contributed another all-around game of 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Jared Bahay, one of the revelations for Gilas, wrapped up the tournament with 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
The Gilas lead ballooned to as much as 14 points although Iran refused to go down without a fight and came within eight, 86-78, with still over three minutes left in the game. The Filipino bets though managed to protect the lead in the ensuing minutes as Harris sealed the deal for the Filipinos with a clutch and-1 play that gave Gilas a double-digit spread, 91-80 with less than two minutes left in the clock.
Despite the winning end, Gilas still had its worst finish in the tournament at seventh, two spots behind its fifth-place performance in 2015.