Fil-Am NBTC-bound prospect eyes Gilas women stint

MANILA, Philippines -- Fifteen-year-old Filipino-American baller Laela Mateo wants to don the blue and white jersey of Gilas Pilipinas in the future.

Mateo, a Grade 9 student in Sacramento, California, is one of the bright spots of the Fil-Am Nation Select 2 competing in the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC).

The 5-foot-7 youngster, who is playing both guard positions, voiced willingness to compete for the Philippines in the future.

“If I have a chance, I want to play and represent the Philippines in the international competition. It’s a dream I shared with my father, so I try my best to make it,” Mateo said on Tuesday after a loss in the morning match against local team Young Queenz.

“I've got to play my best. I just need to keep my focus on winning one game at a time. I hope I can make it to the Gilas Team this time,” she added.

Fil-Am 2 coach Brian Ramos, who came from James Campbell High School in Hawaii, said that Mateo is “a tough girl.”

“[Mateo is] determined, focused, and very coachable,” she added.

Mateo and the rest of Fil-Am 2 are trying to barge into the quarterfinal phase of the tournament.

This year, the NBTC had the inaugural Manila Live competitions, which feature a girls tournament, as well as U19, U16, and U14 boys tournaments.

The NBTC will run until the weekend, capped by the All-Star on Saturday and the competition finals on Sunday.