Batang Gilas captures 4th straight SEABA U16 title

May 18, 2017 - 1:53 PM
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Kai Sotto dunks over an opponent while playing for the national youth team in the SEABA U16 tournament in May 2017. (PBA Media Bureau)

The Philippine national youth basketball team trounced Malaysia, 83-62, to complete a sweep and capture its fourth straight title in the 2017 SEABA Under-16 Championship on Thursday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Batang Gilas won all of its four games with an average margin of 44.3 points to finish as the No.1 team in the competition.

The Philippines remains as the only country that won the gold medal in the tournament since the biennial event started in 2011.

Batang Gilas, along with Malaysia and Thailand, is now qualified for the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship

The promising 6’11” teenager Kai Sotto tallied 15 points and 12 boards to carry Batang Gilas in the victory over Malaysia.

Recaredo Calimag and Terrence Fortea also had 15 points apiece, while Bismark Lina added 13 markers.