Rock solid: Sapphires sparkle with 81-point win

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Australia have defeated Philippines 123-42 at Arena Seremban in Malaysia to start their FIBA U16 Asia Cup campaign.

Key Details

Result: Australia 123 def. Philippines 42

When: September 22, 2025

Where: Arena Seremban, Malaysia

By the Numbers

Madison Ryan (Australia) starred with 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block in 16 minutes.

Marianela Fakalata (Australia) had 19 points, four assists and four steals in 18 minutes played.

Daisy Hocking (Australia) finished with seven points, seven rebounds and nine assists in 18 minutes played.

Full Box Score

What Happened

The Sapphires dominated from the start, leading at quarter time by 21 points (33-12). This came from a tenacious defence forcing 24 turnovers for the match and picking up 15 steals and eight blocks in total.

Australia won the rebound count against Philippines by a mammoth 39 boards (70-31) with bigs Jemyma Manyok (16 rebounds) and Matilda Trout (12 rebounds) being the primary glass cleaners for the game. Troutand Manyok also had three blocks a piece. On offence, the Sapphires had four players who scored 15+ points.

Marianela Fakalata was the game’s leading scorer with 19 points, being followed closely by Madison Ryan (17), Laura Seiz (15) and Sophie Richardson (15).

They shot as a team an outstanding 51.1 percent from the field and 37 percent from three on their way to an 81-point win, limiting the Philippines to only 19 percent from the field. Daisy Hocking had a near triple-double for the green and gold.

She ended the game with seven points, seven rebounds and nine assists with a game-high plus/minus of +55.

The Sapphires now play South Korea on Tuesday in their second group stage game at 1:30pm (AEST).

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