Energen-PH youth squad braces for tough Seaba tilt

MANILA—The Energen-Pilipinas Under-16 Youth squad is in the thick of preparation for the Southeast Asian Basketball Association tournament that tips off early August in Malaysia.

The tournament tips off August 9 to 13.

“We don’t want to take any chances,” said Energen-Pilipinas head coach Olsen Racela. “We want to form a really competitive team that will allow us to keep our edge in Southeast Asia. But we also want to have the mind-set that we will be facing tough opponents.”

The Philippines has dominated basketball in the region and Racela hopes his squad can continue the trend.

The Seaba tournament, which will be held in Banting, one hour away from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, is the qualifier for the Fiba-Asia youth championship this October.

Racela currently has an 18-man pool but hasy yet to make the cut for the Seaba tilt as he is awaiting word from schools that will be willing to lend their players to the national team.

“We’re still in the process of asking which schools are willing to lend their players for the tournament,” Racela said. “Once we have the complete list of players that will be allowed by their schools to participate, then we can make the cut.

“Right now, we’re keeping the 18-man pool intact so we have enough elbow room to form the final roster,” added the former San Miguel Beer court general in the PBA.

The Energen-Pilipinas youth squad is coming off a runner-up stint in the juniors division of the recent FilOil-Flying V preseason tournament.

Among those in the pool include San Beda’s Arvin Dave Tolentino and Gideon Babilonia, Sacred Heart-Cebu’s Henry Asilum and Adven Jess Diputado, Ateneo’s Michale Jay Javelosa and Xavier’s Kyles Lao.