Pressure is on for Batang Gilas

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes and Batang Gilas coach Mike Oliver pose during the 2017 Seaba Championship press conference. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson

With the 2017 SEABA Under-16 Championships to be held in Manila, Batang Gilas coach Mike Oliver admitted the team is feeling the weight of expectations being the hosts of the regional tournament.

“We can feel the pressure. We want the result to be favorable for us and for our boys to perform at their best for their families and our supporters,” he said.

With almost a month before the competitions begin, Oliver believes that his wards can deliver the goods, especially with the way training has been running.

“Our practices have been good. We’ve been practicing three to four times a week since January but we only got complete in the last week of March. We’re hoping that we can fix the scheduling conflicts with their schools after the Holy Week and everything go smooth the rest of the way,” he said.

Oliver will be banking on Ateneo big man Kai Sotto to lead Batang Gilas in its bid for a fourth straight win in the tournament.

The Philippines open hostilities against Singapore on May 14, before facing off against Indonesia on May 15, Thailand on May 17, and Malaysia on May 18.

The top team in the single round-robin tourney will rule the plum and will qualify for the 2017 Fiba Asia Under-16 Championship later this year.