Junior Ballers From Taytay To Be Part Of FIBA-Asia Under-16 Championship

The Pilipinas-Energen under-16 young men's basketball team hopes to continue its rise in Asian basketball as it prepares for the FIBA-Asia Under-16 Championship set October 18 to 28 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The team will try to at least equal the fourth-place finish of a Kiefer Ravena-led Pilipinas-Nokia team mentored by Eric Altamirano in 2009 in Johore Bahru, Malaysia.

Newly-installed youth team coach Olsen Racela said it is too early to assess the Pilipinas-Energen's chances. But the cage great who just retired this season after 19 seasons in the PBA hopes they can at least achieve the same feat by the Pilipinas-Nokia team two years ago.

"We are a pretty tall team and very talented individually," said Racela. "But we are still working on our team game and we still lack shooters."

San Beda-Taytay has the most players in the team with Gideon Ira Babilonia — son of the late Gido Babilonia — Joshua Caracut, Arvin Tolentino and Ranbill Angelo Tongco in the fold.

Ateneo contributes three players, with Michael Javelosa, Izak Kiefer Lim and Tomas Gabriel Ramos joining the national squad.

Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation (FEU-FERN), La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) and Sacred Heart-Ateneo De Cebu has two players each.

They are Joshua Dave Aguilon and John Jose Domingo of FEU-FERN, Janhubert Angelo Cani and Christopher Angelo Vito of LSGH, and Renzar Asilum and Adven Jess Diputado from the Cebu-based school.

Kyles Jefferson Lao (Xavier), Peter Amiel Murphy (Southville), Daryl Louie Pascual (University of Perpetual Help Dalta), Rashleigh-Paolo Rivero (National University) and Henri Lorenzo Subido (De La Salle-Zobel) complete the 19-man team, with 14-year-old Isaac Gofrom Xavier, standing at six-foot-five, as part of the training pool.

The Under-16 team had an exhibition game against the Under-18 squad bannered by Ravena.

Ravena, presently considered as the best player coming out of high school, led his team to a fifth-place finish in the FIBA Asia Under-18 championship in Yemen. In their tune-up game with the younger Nationals Thursday at The Arena in San Juan, the Under-16 team lost, 68-88.

"We are still a work in progress. It's still a long way to go but we are optimistic," said Racela.

As part of their build-up, the team will fly to the United States on April 9 to train under renowned high school coach Ed Schilling, who has a training camp in Indiana.

"He (Schilling) is a skills coach, and it's important for this team because at their age, it is important to have those skills kasi kulang pa talaga," said Racela, who will be assisted by his brother Nash, Eric Gonzales and Richie Ticzon.

The team will also compete in the Fil-Oil Flying V Premier Season Cup this summer and might join an invitational tournament being planned for September.

Racela said that the team is still open for other players, especially tall Fil-foreigners, who may be interested to join.

Team manager Joel Lopa said that no player really stands out as they are all equally talented.

"We hope that we can manage to compete, but that won’t be a problem as long as they work hard," said Lopa.

Credits: Reuben Terrado, RCJ, KY, GMA News.tv