MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas youth squad departed for Greece yesterday brimming with confidence after sweeping its tuneup matches in Doha, Qatar.
Buoyed by an easy 79-54 win in their first meeting early this week, the Nationals repeated over Al Rayyan with an even dominant 93-64 victory that could be a morale boost for the team heading to Heraklion, Greece for their FIBA U19 World Cup campaign.
As 7-foot-2 Kai Sotto took the backseat making just seven points and six rebounds, his frontcourt partner AJ Edu took the cudgels together with Rome-based guard sensation Dalph Panopio who finally had his breakout game with the Gilas youth.
The 6-foot-11 Fil-Nigerian Edu piled up 18 points and nine rebounds while Panopio stuffed the stats sheet with 14 markers, five boards, four assists and three steals.
It was a big improvement for Panopio from his three-point and two-assist effort in his first game with the team.
NU big man Carl Tamayo put in 11 points with the other members of the 14-man pool in Geo Chiu, Bismarck Lina, Gerry Abadiano, Dave Ildefonso, Migz Oczon, Terrence Fortea, Xyrus Torres, Joshua Lazaro, Rhayyan Amsali and James Spencer having their own contributions
Head coach Sandy Arespacochaga and his coaching staff are to name the final 12 before the team managers’ meeting in the world youth meet set June 29 to July 7.
Ranked as the 30th best U19 squad in the world, Gilas youth is bracketed in tough Pool C with No. 9 Argentina, No. 15 Greece and No. 19 Russia.
The Nationals open their campaign against home team Greece on Sunday before going up against Russia on Monday and Argentina Wednesday.