It took more than three minutes for Gilas Pilipinas Youth to find its rhythm, but once it did, Vietnam had no chance of stopping the onslaught. The Filipino squad erupted for a 99-52 rout in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers, giving LA Tenorio a memorable win in his coaching debut.

Rough Start, Rapid Turnaround
Vietnam shocked the home crowd at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center by racing to a 13-4 lead, forcing Tenorio to call his first timeout at the 7:01 mark. “Halatang bagito ba? Nag-panic agad!” the rookie coach joked, acknowledging the pressure of his first stint on the sidelines.

That timeout proved pivotal, halting Vietnam’s momentum and allowing Gilas to regroup. Travis Pascual, Jolo Pascual, and Ethan Tan-Chi sparked a fierce 10-0 run, seizing a 17-15 lead and ending the first quarter with a 9-0 blitz.

The Filipinos followed with a dominant second quarter, outscoring Vietnam 32-13 to effectively put the game away by halftime. Aggressive drives, suffocating defense, and superior talent overwhelmed their opponents as the lead ballooned to 47 points in the second half.

Balanced Offense, Eye on Thailand
Travis Pascual and Prince Carino each tallied 16 points, while Jolo Pascual added 14 and both Justin Hallare and Jhello Lumague chipped in 10. With multiple scoring options and relentless energy, Gilas flexed its depth and cohesion despite the early scare.

Tenorio admitted Vietnam’s strong start was unexpected due to the lack of scouting. “We didn’t know anything about them… but we knew they have three very good players,” he said. He also expressed relief after surviving his coaching baptism, saying, “Para akong varsity player uli… It was a learning process — for the boys and myself.”

Gilas Pilipinas Youth faces Thailand today, followed by Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia over the next four nights. Only the top three teams advance to the FIBA U16 Asia Cup in Mongolia this August, with SEABA gaining an extra slot thanks to the Philippines’ strong showing in the previous edition under coach Josh Reyes.