The Philippines came from behind to bring down Japan 78-69 Friday night for its second win in the 25th FIBA-Asia men's basketball championship in Tianjin, China. The win avenged Powerade-Team Pilipinas'narrow 88-87 loss to Japan in the recent Jones Cup tournament in Taipei, Taiwan. The Japanese led 41-35 at halftime as the Filipinos started poorly, allowing the Japanese to score easy baskets. But the Filipinos finally regained their bearings in the second half as they came charging back. At the start of the fourth quarter, they unleashed a 16-4 bomb to pull away, 72-57, with barely four minutes left in the game. Sonny Thoss topscored with 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Philippines. Asi Taulava added 11 points. The Philippines goes up to meet a stronger rival in South Korea on Saturday night, a game that could provide a glimpse of how far the Filipinos could reach in this World Championship qualifier. Both teams are now tied for the lead in Group A with a 2-0 win-loss slate. The Koreans are led by 7-foot-3 former Portland Trail Blazer center Ha Seung-Jin. South Korea demolished Japan on Thursday, 95-74. On Friday, the Koreans picked up their second win, plastering Sri Lanka, 122-54. A victory over South Korea should put the Philippines in good stead with a 3-0 slate as it takes on the top three teams from Group B, most likely Iran, Taiwan and, following Uzbekistan's shock loss Thursday, Kuwait. The four teams with the best win-loss records after the two-phase preliminaries advance to the knockout quarterfinals against, most probably, host China, Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar. Winners there then move up to the semifinals where the finalists and the playoff victor between the two losers qualify to the 16th FIBA World Championship in Istanbul next year. In other games on Friday: Jordan beat the Indonesia 105-47; Lebanon beat the UAE 108-38; Taiwan beat Kuwait 73-51; China beat Kazakhstan 74-56; Qatar beat India 95-70; Iran beat Uzbekistan 82
