SANA’A, Yemen (21st FIBA Asia U18 Championship): Philippines scored the first nine points of the game, outscored convincingly Yemen in every quarter and then rounded off with a resounding 97-48 win for a fifth place finish in the competition.

Philippines, under Eric Altamirano, thus improved upon their seventh place finish at Tehran two years ago.

Yemen, anyway, had earned their best ever finish when they entered the quarterfinals. Yemen had played in FIBA Asia U18 Championship only twice before – finishing 13th in the 2000 edition at Kuala Lumpur and 10th at Urumqi four years ago.

Philippines had lost to Yemen 69-76 in Group F Second Round game.

“It was a different day and a different game altogether. We just want to leave everything on the floor,” Altamirano had said before the game.

Hit the floor his boys did and really hard at that, without giving Yemen any breathing time.

Joshua Alolino scored seven of his game-high 18 points in the first quarter as Philippines took a stranglehold control on the proceedings.

As the game progressed, all the Philippines players got a feel of the court – each of them for at least eight minutes. All of them scored – five of them in double-digits.

“We have had a nice crowd supporting us here. We wanted to leave Sana’A with some happy memories for them,” Altamirano said.

“I think the boys were a little tired and drained,” said Yemen coach Saber Al Aghbari.

“Nevertheless, I am proud of the way they played in the competition,” he added.

Sabri Sadaqah, the only player to score in double-digit for Yemen, was their highest scorer with 16 points.

For Game Statistics and Detailed scores click here

FIBA Asia