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BURGER KING takes a first crack at the talent-laden Nokia Philippine Youth team Saturday wary of the country's top high school players and their tested coach as well.
"It's going to be tough," said Burger King coach Allan Gregorio. "There's awesome talent and, knowing the style of coach Franz (Pumaren), they're going to be relentless. We have to be a little more disciplined."
The Nokia RP Youth Team will compete as a guest squad in the Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup as part of its training this year.
"We're joining to gain experience and to jell," said Pumaren.
The 12-noon debut of the under-18 squad kicks off a three-game bill that will see Hapee Toothpaste and Pharex going on separate bids for a share of the lead.
Hapee will shoot for its second straight win versus Bacchus at 2 p.m., while Pharex will target the same goal against Toyota Otis at 4 p.m. Saturday at The Arena in San Juan.
Pumaren said fielding his young players against opponents five to 10 years their senior will help finalize the RP lineup for the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) youth tournament in Malaysia on May 1.
Heading the Youth roster are Jed Manguera of 2007 UAAP juniors champion De La Salle-Zobel, Ateneo's Frank Golla, University of the Philippines' Mark Lopez and Joseph Marata, Xavier's Gabriel Banal and Alvin Teng and Sacred Heart-Cagayan de Oro's Philip Paredes.
"We want to know what we need to develop, our weaknesses and see who can really help us in future competitions," said Pumaren, long-time mentor of UAAP champion La Salle.
Similarly, Hapee coach Louie Alas will continue to familiarize himself with his new team after having joined last month.
Mark Borboran, Larry Rodriguez and Gabe Norwood actually made Alas' first game-day easy by powering the Complete Protectors to a 77-62 win over Toyota Otis last Tuesday.
Hapee, though, will continue to miss the services of veteran Reed Juntilla, who is expected to return from Cebu Sunday.
Pharex, with only two wins last conference, hopes to sustain its strong start after nipping Bacchus, 86-83, while Burger King also tries to carry the momentum of a 73-67 overtime win over San Mig Coffee.
Jasmine W. Payo
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