BRUNEI’S Filipino Coach Nomar Isla is hoping the Batang Gilas would practice “Filipino hospitality” when they clash on Saturday in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba) Under-16 tournament at the Xavier University Gymnasium in Cagayan de Oro City.
Batang Gilas is the clear-cut favorite to prevail against Brunei in their 4 p.m. encounter. Thailand and Indonesia clash in the opener at 2 p.m.
Brunei suffered consecutive one-sided setbacks—a 166-14 decision to Indonesia and a 118-25 humiliation from Thailand.
Isla expects nothing but the same result when they face the Michael Oliver-mentored youth squad, the defending champion of the tournament.
“’Yung mga Pinoy naman, they know their basketball. Kapag alam nilang kaya ang kalaban, inaalayan nila because they are true gentlemen of the sport,” said Isla on the eve of their encounter.
The young Filipinos faced Thailand late Friday, eyeing their second straight win in the tournament that serves as the qualifier for the International Basketball Federation Asia (Fiba) U1-16 tournament.
Indonesia is the probable host of the Fiba tourney following the withdrawal of India.
The top 3 teams in the five-nation tournament will advance to the Fiba Asia tournament, the qualifier for the Fiba World U17 Championship next year.
Batang Gilas, behind the double-double games of Jonas Tibayan and SJ Belangel, trounced Malaysia, 106-69, in its first assignment in the tournament backed by MVP Sports Foundation and supported by the local government of Cagayan de Oro City, headed by Mayor Oscar Moreno.
Joel Orellana