Gilas Youth relegated to classification phase after loss to Serbia

Gilas Pilipinas Youth dropped an 87-60 loss to Serbia last Thursday to get eliminated from the knockout stage of the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.

The Serbian cagers led by Marko Pecarski were just too much for the Gilas Youth as it fall to the classification phase where they will face Australia.

Pecarski had 21 points and 6 rebounds for Serbia as Filip Petrusev had 17 points and Dalibor Ilic had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists for the winning team.

Dave Ildefonso scored 18 points as Kai Sotto had 13 points and 8 rebounds for Gilas Youth as they seek a ninth place finish in the classification phase.

Gilas Youth kept within distance against Serbia even after taking a 12-8 lead in the first quarter, the only lead the Philippine team had in the game. Ilic scored back-to-back baskets for Serbia to get a 19-14 lead.

The Serbians started to pull away in the second quarter with a 19-3 run as Petrusev scored 6 points in the run for a 41-21 lead. Petrusev converted late in the second to pick up a 43-28 halftime lead.

The Gilas Youth cagers struggled to respond against the powerhouse Serbia squad with Pecarski leading the charge in the third quarter to take a 64-42 lead. Serbia was not seriously threatened in the fourth, outscoring the Philippines, 23-18, to maintain the big gap.

Scores:

SERBIA 87 – Pecarksi 21, Petrusev 17, Ilic 13, Trifunovic 9, Paunovic 8, Vasiljevic 8, Cubic 4, Micovic 3, Grbovic 2, Kuzmanovic 2, Islamovic 0, Cerovina 0.

PHILIPPINES 60 – Ildefonso 18, Sotto 13, Abadiano 12, Tamayo 7, Chiu 5, Fortea 3, Panopio 2, Oczon 0, Torres 0, Spencer 0, Amsali 0.

Quarterscores: 19-14, 43-28, 64-42, 87-60.

PHOTO: FIBA.com