The Philippine national Under-18 basketball team is set to leave for Singapore on Monday to compete in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Under-18 Championships to be held at the Singapore Basketball Centre from June 26-30.
The five-team meet will feature the Philippines, host Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Laos, with the top three squads qualifying for the 22nd FIBA Asia Under-18 Championships in Ulan Bator, Mongolia later this year.
Despite some early road bumps for the Under-18 team, particularly in finding a sponsor for the team, coach Olsen Racela remains in good spirits about his team’s situation heading into the SEABA tilt.
“Although we’ve had little time to prepare, we’re very optimistic,” said Racela. “The practices have been good. The practice games have been good, we’re improving every game.”
With a lack of a sponsor, the formation of the team and the ensuing preparations began late for Racela and his players. The SBP has lent its support to the team, but the few weeks they’ve had to get ready for the SEABA meet was rushed, though it ensures the country’s participation in the event.
“Hindi pwedeng hindi tayo represented sa FIBA-sanctioned competitions,” the coach said. “Also, we’re the defending champions in the Under-18 so we want to defend that.”
The SEABA lineup will include five holdovers from the Racela-helmed Energen Pilipinas Under-16 national team that competed in the FIBA Asia Under-16 Championships in Vietnam last year.
J-Jay Alejandro and Hubert Cani of National University, Jay Javelosa of Reedley International, Prince Rivero of La Salle Greenhills, and Isaac Go of Xavier School will again be part of the national team, alongside newcomers Rey Nambatac of Letran, RR De Leon and Marc Olayon of University of the East, Mario Bonleon of LSGH, Kent Lao of UST, Kyle Suarez of the University of the Philippines and Jorem Morada of EAC.
Though the Kiefer Ravena-led Nokia Pilipinas Under-18 team breezed through the SEABA tilt two years ago, sweeping their five games by a winning margin of over 50 points per game, Racela remains cautious of their Southeast Asian rivals, particularly Indonesia and Singapore.
“We were supposed to play Indonesia last Saturday when they were here,” said Racela. “Pero nagkasakit yung players nila so hindi namin sila nakalaro. Ang coach nila si Coach Nat Canson so I’m sure ibang system na naman doon sa nakalaban namin sa SEABA Under-16 last time.”
Aside from having an experienced coach like Canson, Indonesia also boasts of good size, with a player standing 6-10 and another at 6-7. His side has an average height of 6-3.
Racela is also wary of hosts Singapore, which will be led by the 6-7 Delvin Goh, who was already named to the lineup of the both the Singapore Slingers in the ABL and the Singapore men’s national team in the Southeast Asian Games despite being just 16 years of age.
Racela also took the time out to express his gratitude the schools and the leagues who have allowed their players to don the national colors.
“Pasalamat lang sa schools who let their players play for the national team,” said Racela. “Lalo na ang NU, who are the UAAP hosts this year. Aayusin nila ang schedule para makalaro si Hubert Cani tsaka si Jerie Pingoy of FEU sa FIBA Asia.”
The UAAP is reportedly planning to keep the Juniors schedule clear of any games during the stretch of August 17 to 26, so as not to conflict with the international basketball schedule.
“We hope the NCAA will follow that lead because we have players from the NCAA also. Ang EAC, pinahiram na si Jorem sa SEABA and La Salle Greenhills pinahiram na si Mario. We just hope the league also fixes its schedule para makalaro rin sila sa FIBA Asia.”
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