Batang Gilas cast set for U17 World Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Batang Gilas coach Mike Oliver has formalized the 12-man lineup from a pool of 16 to see action in the FIBA U17 World Cup as the Philippines makes its debut against Croatia at the Newell’s Old Boys stadium in Rosario, Argentina, tonight (tomorrow 4:30 a.m., Manila time).

Named to the roster were 5-11 Forthsky Padrigao, 16, of Ateneo, 5-11 Terrence Fortea, 16, of NU, 5-9 Gerry Abadiano, 17, of NU, 5-10 Mclaude Guadana, 17, of Lyceum, 5-11 Migz Pascual of La Salle Zobel, 6-1 RC Calimag, 17, of La Salle Greenhills, 6-5 Yukien Andrada, 17, of San Beda, 6-7 Carl Tamayo, 17, of NU, 6-4 Josh Lazaro, 16, of San Beda, 6-8 Shaun Chiu, 17, of Ateneo, 6-7 Raven Cortez, 15, of La Salle Zobel and 7-1 Kai Sotto, 16, of Ateneo. Struck out were 5-11 King Balaga, 17, of FEU, 5-11 Jorick Bautista, 16, of FEU, 6-2 Rafael Go, 17, of Chiang Kai Shek and 6-5 Bizmarck Lina, 17, of UST.

Assistant team manager Wilbert Loa submitted the lineup at the technical meeting yesterday. Oliver made the decision on whom to enlist after two tune-up games against Canada and New Zealand in Rosario, a port city 300 kilometers from Buenos Aires. Groups C and D games are scheduled in Rosario while Groups A and B games will be played in Santa Fe. The Philippines is in Group D with Croatia, France and Argentina. Canada, New Zealand, Egypt and Montenegro are in Group C. In the knockout Round of 16, teams in Groups C and D will face off with the cross-pairings decided in reverse order of finish where for instance, No. 4 in Group C meets No. 1 in Group D.  If the Philippines finishes No. 4 in Group D, it will battle likely No. 1 Group C team Canada in the Round of 16.

Canada beat the Philippines, 103-68 and New Zealand won, 93-87, in the tune-ups. The six-point loss to New Zealand was an indication that Batang Gilas has improved. At the FIBA Asia/Pacific U16 Championships in Foshan last April, New Zealand crushed Batang Gilas, 76-60, in the playoff for third place. In that tournament, the Philippines qualified for the U17 World Cup by making it to the Final Four after shocking Japan, 72-70, in the quarterfinals.

“In our first tune-up, we were still adjusting to the climate and time difference but against New Zealand, we were better adjusted to the changes,” said Oliver. “Besides, we’re now running a different system with our team. We’re doing dribble drive, the same system as our Gilas Cadets.”

The Philippine delegation arrived in Buenos Aires on Friday last week, enduring a 31 1/2 hour trip that included layovers in Dubai and Rio de Janeiro.  Then, Batang Gilas took a 3 1/2 bus ride from Buenos Aires to Rosario last Monday. 

“Our team is good,” said Batang Gilas assistant coach Josh Reyes who will pilot the Philippine team at the FIBA Asia/Pacific U18 Cup in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on Aug. 5-11. “We’re adjusting to jet lag and surprisingly, very cold weather in Argentina. The gyms are very, very cold inside. We just want to compete and give ourselves chances to win games and go on from there. Overall, we want to improve since the age of our core – Kai, Raven, Forthsky and Josh – is younger than most of the competition.”

Oliver said it’s evident that the bodies of European players are bigger than Filipinos at an early age and that could lead to a disparity in the physicality of how the games will be played.