2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Final Day

Team USA had its toughest test of the tournament, but the Americans buckled down to work and passed with flying colors. In the end, Team USA defended its U17 crown and pocketed a rare FIBA World three-peat at the expense of a very gritty Australian five.

Malik Newman is named the tournament's MVP after leading
Team USA to a rare FIBA World three-peat.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Final Day:

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day Six

Let’s do it all over again! Australia put together a magical comeback to beat Spain in overtime and will square off against the United States in Saturday's Final of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship after the two-time reigning undefeated champions were given a real fight against Serbia before prevailing.

The Aussies and Americans battled in the 2012 FIBA U17 Worlds final with the USA winning 95-62 for a second crown.

Top: Team USA celebrates after defeating Serbia.
Bottom: Australia mounts a late rally to pull the rug from under Spain.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day Six:

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day Five

The fifth day of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE saw Serbia book its first-ever spot in the last four at a FIBA U17 World Championship as it knocked off Canada to set up a semifinal showdown against the two-time undefeated reigning champions United States on Friday, while Australia will take on Spain in the other semifinal.

Paul Desiderio and the rest of Batang Gilas just couldn't
topple the mighty Argentines.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day Five:

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day Four

The fourth day of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE saw the Chinese upset the Italians even as Team USA, Canada, and France cruised to the quarterfinals.

Scenes of triumph and anguish are on full display in the
2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day Four:

USA over JAPAN, 122-38

Box Scores here.

- Team USA raced past Japan and barged into the quarterfinals with ease. Jayson Tatum’s 19 points paced six American players in double-figures, while Diamond Stone had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Rui Hachimura was the lone bright spot for Japan with 25 markers. The Americans face the last surviving Asian squad, China, in the next round, while Japan battles Italy in the classification wars.

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day Three

The third day of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE saw the Americans outclass Batang Gila even as the Round of Sixteen pairings were set in stone.

Diamond Stone (left) and the rest of Team USA had little trouble
getting by Jolo Mendoza (right) and Batang Gilas.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day Three:

FRANCE over JAPAN, 96-51

FRA 96 - Denis 24, Ponsar 19, Noua 14, Jeanne 11, Loubaki 5, Gombauld 5, Labanere 4, Hergott 4, Hufschmidt 4, Lebeouf 3, Bengaber 3

JPN 51 - Hachimura 27, Maki 7, Hiraiwa 5, Muto 4, Hayashi 2, Igarashi 2, Nomi 2, Nnanna 2, Maeta 0, Taira 0, Kono 0, Gunji 0

QS: 22-12, 49-25, 76-39, 96-51

- France moved up to 2 wins and 1 loss after blasting Japan, thanks mainly to the 14-point, 12-rebound double-double of Amine Noua. Coach Frederic Crapez also enjoyed great production from his wingmen as Gauthier Denis and Carl Ponsar combined for 6 triples and 43 markers. Japan, which remained winless in three outings, was paced by the 27 points and 8 rebounds of Rui Hachimura, who has been Team Hayabusa’s lone bright spot in this tourney.

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day Two

The second day of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE continued seeing the favorites win even as unheralded Puerto Rico claimed another European victim in Italy.

Day Two of the FIBA U17 World Championships had great action.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day Two:

PUERTO RICO over ITALY, 58-51

PUR 58 – Toro 20, Allende 13, Gandia 11, Ebube 6, Texeira 4, Cruz 2, Pacheco 1, Torres 1, Moya 0, Rivera F 0, Rivera L 0, Washington 0

ITA 51 – Tote 16, Costa 15, Bucarelli 6, Pecchia 5, La Torre 4, Bolpin 3, Moretti 1, Cattapan 1, Savoldelli 0, Vercellino 0, Cesana 0, Nwohuocha 0

QS: 13-13, 27-27, 44-37, 58-51,

This was a close game all throughout, but, in the end, Italy just had no answer for 6’9 Arnaldo Toro, who had 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 1 steal in 26 minutes. He struggled from the field, shooting just 6/13, but he made up for that by making 8 of his 10 free throws. Ivan Gandia and Leandro Allende backed him up with a combined 24 points while Italy was paced by Leonardo Tote and Valerio Costa, who had 16 and 15 points respectively. Coach Daniel Ortiz’s wards outrebounded Italy, 48-39, and they had more second-chance points, 17-9.

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships - Players to Watch Part Two

Our Batang Gilas U17 squad, undersized and all, is battling in Dubai against the best young hoopsters the world over. This is the first time this youth squad has made this sort of impact in hoops history, and they deserve all the credit. Still, one has to wonder about the kind of world class talents our boys are bound to face. Some of these guys will be drafted in the NBA in a few years. Some might turn out to be All-Stars. Maybe the next Dirk Nowitzki? The next Gasol brothers? The next Manu Ginobili or Tony Parker? Who knows? 

The second set of young 'uns who'll take the world by storm!

Let’s meet some of the non-Pinoy players to watch in the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships.

ANDREA LA TORRE (ITA)

Small Forward - 6’8 - 17 years old - Stella Azzurra Roma Club

2013 FIBA Europe U16 Championships line: 14.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 3.0apg, 2.2spg, 1.1 triples per game 

- La Torre was Italy’s top gun in the 2013 FIBA Europe U16 tourney, leading the Azzurri to a top four finish behind Spain, Serbia, and Greece. La Torre is a big wingman, able to post up smaller foes and use his quickness against taller guys. He has struggle a little bit in Dubai so far, averaging just 6 points, 3 rebounds, and under 2 dimes a game. He has also shot just 6/19 from the field, but things should pick up for him soon. Look for La Torre to have a breakout game to close out group play or early in the knockout phase.

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships - Players to Watch Part One

Our Batang Gilas U17 squad, undersized and all, is battling in Dubai against the best young hoopsters the world over. This is the first time this youth squad has made this sort of impact in hoops history, and they deserve all the credit. Still, one has to wonder about the kind of world class talents our boys are bound to face. Some of these guys will be drafted in the NBA in a few years. Some might turn out to be All-Stars. Maybe the next Dirk Nowitzki? The next Gasol brothers? The next Manu Ginobili or Tony Parker? Who knows? 

Some of the brightest young stars are on display in Dubai!

Let’s meet some of the non-Pinoy players to watch in the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships.

IVAN RABB (USA)

Forward-Center - 6’10 - 17 years old - Bishop O’Dowd HS

2013 FIBA Americas U16 line: 12.0ppg, 9.8rpg, 2.6bpg, 1.2spg

- Rabb is one of the top NCAA prospects in the States. He is projected by ESPN to be the top recruit in 2015. NUMBER ONE. And yet he didn’t play a single minute in Team USA’s opener against Greece. Maybe he’s the ace up coach Don Showalter’s sleeve? We’ll see, but the fact is this kid is maybe the best player on this club. He’s tall, has a 7’0 wingspan, has great timing on the glass and around the rim, and can finish. 

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day One

The first day of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE didn’t really have any surprises, save for how Puerto Rico upset 2013 European U16 champs Spain and how Japan forced overtime against the Aussies.

Day one of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Cup is in the books!

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day One:

PUERTO RICO over SPAIN, 67-65

PUR 67 – Allende 16, Toro 13, Gandia 11, Cruz 9, Texeira 8, Pacheco 4, Ebube 4, Rivera 2, Moya 0, Torres 0

ESP 65 – Lopez 15, Yusta 15, Garcia 11, Perez 6, Rodriguez 6, Mazaira 6, Vila 4, Sorolla 2, Turbica 0, Young 0, Onwuka 0

QS: 19-12, 35-31, 45-52, 67-65

6’9 Arnaldo Toro asserted himself inside here, registering a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double while also blocking 3 blocked. He thoroughly outplayed his Spanish counterparts, Jaume Sorolla and Ramon Vila, dominating the interior while Ivan Gandia and Leandro Allende took care of the perimeter. Things looked good for Spain after a Samuel Rodriguez three with under 5 minutes left that gave them a 60-56 lead, but then coach Daniel Ortiz’s team unloaded an 11-2 finishing kick that gave Puerto Rico a commanding 67-62 advantage in the dying seconds before a trey by Xabier Lopez pegged the final count. Allende and Gandia paired up for 27 points for the Puerto Ricans while Lopez and Santiago Yusta each tallied 15 markers to pace the Spaniards.

The 2014 Batang Gilas U17 Player Profiles

Meet the members of Batang Gilas Pilipinas!

Coach Jamike Jarin has won many titles in his time as coach of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, but, starting Friday, August 1, 2014, he will be in the biggest battle of his life as his Batang Gilas U17 squad takes on the world’s best youth cagers in the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE.

Jarin’s wards accomplished the unexpected last year, copping second place behind China in the 2013 FIBA Asia U16 Championships in Tehran, Iran. Batang Gilas ended up with a 7-win, 2-loss slate in that joust, besting taller teams from Kazakhstan, Iran, Japan, and Taiwan to gain the country’s first ever silver medal in U16 continental play.

They then earned the right, along with China and third-placer Japan, to vie for the world crown. It’ll be a much tougher journey this time around, however, as the Pinoys are bracketed with Angola, Greece, and powerhouse Team USA. Once again, nobody really expects the Philippines to cause a stir in this competition, especially since Batang Gilas doesn’t have as much athleticism and size as its opponents, but that’s not to say they won’t turn any heads.

Before the action begins, let’s meet our protagonists, the twelve brave young souls who will carry our colors and represent us with honor: