Batang Gilas returns to action, locks horns with Thailand

Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

10 a.m. – Indonesia vs Singapore

12 p.m. – Thailand vs Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Batang Gilas goes up against Thailand Wednesday in its return from its rest day, seeking a third straight win to arrange a virtual championship duel with Malaysia at the close of the fourth SEABA Under-16 Championship at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Thursday.

Coach Mike Oliver hopes his chargers learned their lesson in their last game where they were outscored by the Indonesians in the second half when they became complacent after leading by 36 points early in the third.

Settling for a 96-73 victory over the Indons, the Philippines boys are raring to plunge back into action and chase the last two wins they need to remain the undefeated and undisputed champs in SEABA boys championship.

Thailand sports a 1-1 win-loss record going to its 12 noon showdown with the favored home team. The Thais bowed to the Malaysians, 62-74, Monday before bouncing back with a 79-69 win over the Indons Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Malaysia stretched its unbeaten run to three games with a 77-56 conquest of Singapore, thus, assuring itself of the silver medal in the fourth edition of this SEABA boys event.

Also the runners-up in 2011 and in 2015, the Malaysians take a welcome breather Wednesday before facing the Philippine boys at 12 p.m. Thursday.

Oliver is not looking far ahead, insisting they can’t take the Thais lightly.

He stressed the need to keep the killer’s instinct in their post-game talk Monday night and in their light workout Tuesday.

The Thais, the silver medal winners in 2013 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, have a competitive eight-man core group that showed decent stuffs against the Malaysians and the Indons.

But Batang Gilas looks to have clear advantages in size, skills and in depth and balance of its lineup.

Six-foot-9 Kai Sotto, 6-foot-7 Shaun Geoffrey Chiu of PACE, 6-foot-6 Raven Angelo Cortez of La Salle-Zobel and 6-foot-5 John Bismark Lina of UST form Batang Gilas’ tall frontline.

RC Calimag of San Beda, Terrence Fortea of NU, Rafael Go of Chiang Kai Shek, McLaude Guadana of Lyceum Cavite, Joshua Rafael Lazaro of San Beda, Rence Keith Sean Padrigao of Ateneo, Jose Miguel Pascual of San Beda and Miguel Roy Luis Tan of Xavier have been doing well in their respective spots.