Gilas Pilipinas U17 finishes 16th at FIBA U17 World Cup after loss to Australia
The Gilas Pilipinas U17 squad concluded their 2024 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup campaign with a 115-53 defeat to Australia in the battle for 15th place on Sunday, July 7th, at the Ahmet Comert Sports Hall in Istanbul, Turkey.
This result marks their lowest finish in the tournament’s history.
Despite a valiant effort throughout the competition, Gilas Boys were unable to secure a victory. The Australian team proved too strong, dominating the game from the outset. This loss signifies a 16th-place finish for the Philippines, surpassing their previous lowest ranking of 15th in 2014.
Similar to their previous encounters, Gilas Pilipinas U17 struggled to keep pace with their opponents. Australia established a significant lead early on, ending the first quarter with a 15-point advantage (31-16) and expanding it to a commanding 29-point lead by halftime (56-27).
Dash Daniels spearheaded Australia’s offensive attack, leading the scoring with a remarkable 28 points. He displayed impressive shooting accuracy, converting 12 out of his 16 field goal attempts. Other notable contributors included Nash Walker (18 points), Alexander Dickeson (11 points), and Joe Robinson (11 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists).
Edryn Morales emerged as the top scorer for Gilas Pilipinas U17 with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Joaquin Ludovice provided additional support with 10 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
While the final result wasn’t what they envisioned, this tournament undoubtedly served as a valuable learning experience for the young Filipino players. They faced strong competition throughout the week and will gain valuable insights from their performance for their future basketball development.
