Energen PH U-18 cagers leave today

THE ENERGEN Pilipinas Under-18 team leaves for Mongolia today oozing with confidence despite a tough draw in the 22nd Fiba Asia U18 Championship.

National youth team coach Olsen Racela said his boys have been gearing up for taller and heftier opponents as the Philippines got bunched in Group D with two-time champion Iran, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia in the preliminary round of the world qualifiers set from Aug. 17 to 26 in Ulaanbaatar.

“We expect bigger opponents in this age group, so our strength will still be our speed,” Racela said during the team’s send-off dinner on Sunday night. “We have a tough schedule, so hopefully we can sustain our speed until the end.”

Jerie Pingoy (Far Eastern University-Diliman) and Rey Nambatac (Letran), both the reigning juniors MVP in their varsity leagues, banner the 12-man Philippine team.

“We have players in every position unlike last year when we lacked big men,” said Racela. “It’s a good team.”

Jay Alejandro (National University) and Prince Rivero (La Salle Green Hills) are co-captains of the squad that includes fellow under-16 team holdovers Hubert Cani (NU), Jay Javelosa (Reedley International) and Gideon Babilonia (Ateneo).

“Our main problem is familiarity,” said Racela. “Unlike the under-16 team which was together for nine months, this group was formed late. So I’m really relying on my under-16 holdovers.”

Completing the team are Kris Porter (Ateneo), Mario Bonleon (La Salle Green Hills), Kyle Suarez (UP), Mark Olayon (UE) and Kent Lao (University of Santo Tomas).

Listed as reserves are Ronnel Jay Lastimosa (St. Benilde) and RR De Leon (UE).

The Philippines opens its bid against Saudi Arabia on Friday, takes on 2008 runner-up Kazakhstan Saturday and fancied Iran on Sunday.

Former Smart Gilas national team coach Rajko Toroman shared his inputs with the team in several practices.

Defending champion China was drawn with Hong Kong, Lebanon and India in Group A.

Also competing in the 16-nation contest are Group B teams Korea, Japan, Singapore, Syria and Group C squads Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia and Bahrain.

The top three finishers will earn berths to the Fiba U19 World Championship set in the Czech Republic next year.