Sotto’s brilliant outing not enough as Batang Gilas bows to China

Batang Gilas’ quest to score the gold in the FIBA Asia U16 Championship came to a screeching halt on Saturday night after losing to China, 60-54, in the semifinals at the Lingnan Mingzhu Gymnasium in Foshan, China. (Photo: Kai Zachary Sotto/Facebook)

MANILA — Batang Gilas’ quest to score the gold in the FIBA Asia U16 Championship came to a screeching halt on Saturday night after losing to China, 60-54, in the semifinals at the Lingnan Mingzhu Gymnasium in Foshan, China.

A monster game from Kai Sotto was not enough as the host squad earned the right to face Australia in the championship game on Sunday behind a third quarter shutdown, in which it limited Batang Gilas to just seven markers all period long.

The said defensive lockdown in the third period was enough for China to outlast Batang Gilas, which still tried to inch closer in the fourth.

Sun Haoqin led China with 22 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Sotto finished with 26 points, 21 rebounds, and six blocks in the losing effort, but Batang Gilas could still finish at the podium with a win over New Zealand in the battle for third on Sunday.