SANA?A, Yemen?The Nokia RP team kept up with the China for most of the game, but ended at the shorter end of the score with an 75-83 setback in Group C of the Fiba Asia U-18 Championships at the 22nd May courts here on Friday.

Despite the loss, the Filipinos, backed by Nokia Philippines and TAO Corporation, entered the second round where it is now grouped with Japan, Yemen, Syria and Iraq. They will battle Yemen at 7 pm on Saturday (1 am, Manila time).

Noticed mainly for their tough defense, the Philippine team had to grapple in the fourth quarter with China?s big men, mostly seven footers as they were outrebounded, 41-29.

?We were able to keep up with them but our big guys got into foul trouble. We lost but I really feel that the boys played like real men,?said Nokia RP U-18 coach Eric Altamirano.

Chinese coach Fan Bin also lauded the Philippines? tough stance.?They (Philippines) have improved a lot,? said Fan as he recalled their match in the FIBA Asia U16 Championship last year when they won the game with an 85-66 score. In Friday?s match, Zhu Xuhang led the scoring for the game with 20 points, and eight rebounds while much-heralded Guo Ailun poured in 19 points.

Raphael Banal led the Philippines with 19 points while Kiefer Ravena and Russel Escoto had 12 and 10 points respectively.

The Filipinos shot only 37 percent from the field at 39 percent (26 of 67 attempts) but cashed in from the freethrow line with a 65 percent clip (15 of 23). They had more field goal attempts than China?s 31 of 59 for a 53 percent shooting.

The tournament dangles three tickets to the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship to be played in Latvia next year