Batang Gilas U18 Wins Against Lebanon, 75-53.

It was the result we expected, with some very unexpected revelations.

The Batang Gilas U18 team was touted to be the best we've sent to this event...ever. And this was its first ever game, with young behemoths Kai Sotto and AJ Edu finally teaming up together. The Lebanese, on the other hand, weren't as well known nor did they have high expectations.

So when Dave Ildefonso started out on fire, scoring 11 of Batang Gilas' first 21 points, outscoring the entire Lebanon team by himself (they had 9 at this point), it seemed like a game that would be amusing but not exciting.

Kai Sotto (photo courtesy of FIBA.com)

Of course, that's exactly when the Lebanese team showed that hard work is the great equaliser. With the Lebanese doubling down on defense (confusing both Sotto and Edu) and racheting it up on offense (at one point, I thought I was watching the 7-seconds-or-less Suns), the Batang Gilas lead shrunk down to two.

And then Ildefonso's championship pedigree showed again, as he hit a transition layup, then two straight threes to give the Philippines an 8 point lead at the half.

After that, it was Edu and Sotto's turn to hammer the Lebanese inside and Gilas finally pulled away to lead by double digits for ost of the second half (highest lead was 23).

Dave Ildefonso led Gilas with 19 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist, AJ Edu had a double double (17points, 12 rebounds) plus 5 blocks while Kai Sotto had 12 points and 8 rebounds, despite not playing in the fourth quarter at all.

Tomorrow, Batang Gilas plays UAE at 6:45pm.

To follow the competitions, go to http://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u18/2018