The school sports season is just around the corner while the Fiba-Asia Under-16 Championship in Vietnam is set in October and with the uncertainty of the participation of several players because of their commitment to their school teams, the national 20-man pool will have to be maintained and not trimmed.
That means national youth head coach Olsen Racela will have to draft his plays with no particular players in mind, and with his final lineup to be determined only a week before the tournament proper.
“We don’t have the luxury of trimming the lineup right now because of the UAAP [University Athletic Association of the Philippines] and NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association],” said Racela.
“But hopefully we can assemble a competitive lineup for the Fiba-Asia and probably will cut down our pool a week before the tournament proper,” he added.
The team is composed mostly of players of the junior teams of Ateneo, San Beda, Far Eastern University, National University, Perpetual Help and La Salle-Zobel, teams that are competing in the NCAA and UAAP tournaments.
But a few Filipino-American prospects could boost the country’s bid.
Racela said he expects Louie Boy Brill, son of former Northern Consolidated Cement guard Louie Brill, to arrive this week and beef up his backcourt. Brill, who according to Racela is a combo guard, attended the team’s camp organized by former national youth head coach Eric Altamirano in Indiana last year.
“I think he can help us in our backcourt,” said Racela, referring to the five-foot-10 Brill, who attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Maryland.
Another Filipino-American prospect, Adam King Gupilan, is being eyed but according to Racela, they are still negotiating with his parents.
The six-foot-four Gupilan is attending Bellarmine-Jefferson High School in Burbank, California, and would definitely be a welcome addition especially in the Fiba-Asia where the Philippines will be pitted against taller squads from China, Korea, Iran and Japan.
But first, the nationals has to win the upcoming second Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) U-16 qualifying tournament in Selangor, Malaysia, from August 9 to 13.
“I’m confident that we will perform well in the Seaba tournament because this team has a lot of potential,” the 40-year-old Racela said of the team being backed by Energen with Joel Lopa as team manager.
The 20-man pool is composed of Rodolfo Alejando III of Malayan High School; Gideon Babilonia, Andrei Caracut, Arvin Tolentino, Ranbill Tongco of San Beda; Ateneo’s Tomas Gabriel Ramos; Michael Jay Javelosa and Izak Kiefer Lim, Renzar Henry Asilum, Joshua Adven and Jess Diputado of Sacred Heart-Ateneo Cebu; Janhubert Angelo Cani and Christopher Vito of La Salle-Greenhills; John Jose Domingo of FEU-FERN; Xavier’s George Isaac Go and Kyles Jefferson Lao, Peter Amiel Murphy of Southville International School; Dary Pascual of Perpetual; Rashleigh Rivero of National University; and Henri Lorenzo Subido of Zobel.
Racela will be assisted by brother Nash, Erick Gonzales and former Ateneo long-range shooter Richie Ticzon with Dan Rose as strength and fitness coach.
