Nokia-RP Under 18 five leaves today for Yemen

MANILA, Philippines—Unfamiliar opponents await the Nokia Pilipinas Under-18 Youth Team  as it leaves today to compete in the Fiba Asia U-18 Championship starting on Sept. 22 in Sana’a, Yemen.   The young Nationals, bannered by  Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Ferrer, are bracketed in Group C along with Asian powerhouse China, Syria and Saudi Arabia.   “It’s hard to gauge [the competition] because we haven’t seen Saudi Arabia and Syria,” said national coach Eric Altamirano during the send-off dinner at the Tao Corporate Center in Makati last Monday.   The tournament’s top three will represent Asia in the 2011 Fiba U19 World Championship in Latvia.   The Nationals earned a slot in the tournament after sweeping the 7th Seaba U18 Championship in Yangon, Myanmar last July.   But school commitments will sideline Fil-Am standouts Ray Parks and Michael Pate, who both led the country to a ninth place finish in the 3-on-3 of last month’s Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.   “They’re very talented, but I think the other players will be able to step up,” said Altamirano.   Ateneo’s Ravena and Von Pessumal and University of Santo Tomas’ Ferrer are also expected to follow next week after the UAAP juniors championship series.   Rounding up the 13-man team are Joshua Angelo Alolino, Rafael Banal, Jeron Teng, Roldan Sara, Russel Escoto, Kyle Neypes, Cederick Labing-isa, Cris Tolomia, Troy Rosario and Gwyne Capacio.   Defending champion Iran leads Group A teams Chinese Taipei, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.  Last edition’s runner-up Kazakhstan battles Korea, Lebanon and Qatar in Group B, while India, Iraq, Japan and Yemen clash in Group D.   The Philippine team mentored by Franz Pumaren reached the quarterfinal round of the tournament’s 2008 edition in Iran.