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.

Gilas vs Lebanon: Not A Mismatch

Gilas Pilipinas came into the FIBA Asia Championships with the lofty goal of finishing #1 in their bracket, so that they can avoid host China in the crossover semifinal round. It was a lofty goal because they needed to win over Iran, a team that has consistently dominated Gilas in the last decade or so.

And when they lost their opening day match to Palestine, many took it to be an indication of Gilas’ quality, that they didn’t have the talent, the will or the smarts to get to where they needed go be.

One week later, the story has become completely different; as Gilas not only managed to win the games they were expected to win (against Japan and India) but also that crucial game versus Iran. Palestine, after a blazing started, faltered and crashed out of the knockout rounds.

As the top seed in Group E, Gilas is slated to go up against the fourth seed in Group F, Lebanon. While it is normal to expect a top seed to make quick work of a fourth seed, this FIBA Asia Championships have been anything but normal.

Gilas To Play Lebanon?

Coach Rajko Toroman is desperate for some quality opposition.

That's why he's trying to set up a friendly game with Asian powerhouse Lebanon, as he tries to whip the Gilas Nationals into shape before the FIBA-Asia Championships.

Games have already been set up with Jordan and Qatar but Coach Toroman wants even more high-quality matches as he seeks to integrate PBA reinforcements Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, and Jimmy Alapag into the regular Gilas team.

More on this story here.