A few weeks before the FIBA Under-16 Asia Cup 2025 SEABA Qualifiers, four standouts from the University of the East were named to the Gilas Pilipinas Boys’ pool: UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Boys’ Basketball Finals MVP Gab Delos Reyes, team captain Brian Orca, sharpshooter Jolo Pascual, and promising big man Goodluck Okebata.
For these young Warriors, sharing the court with the country’s top under-16 prospects — many of whom are also their rivals in the UAAP — was a dream come true.
“Since we’re teammates, we’ve developed strong chemistry, and playing with them will be fun and exciting,” said Delos Reyes, a 16-year-old wingman.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of the Batang Gilas pool. I’m so excited to play alongside my UE teammates and players from other UAAP and NCAA schools. It’s a big opportunity for me — after my rookie year in the UAAP Juniors, I was given the chance to be part of Gilas.”
But as the selection process intensified, Gilas Boys head coach LA Tenorio had to make some difficult decisions.
The first to be cut from the Final 15 was Okebata. Orca, meanwhile, was among the last three players released from the pool.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the end, only Delos Reyes and Pascual secured their spots in the final 12-man lineup.
Delos Reyes admitted that training under Tenorio and lead assistant Gabe Norwood was grueling — and the level of competition among their own teammates was just as fierce.
That’s why, even with many expecting him to make the team, he still felt a wave of relief when his name was included in the final roster.
“I’ll take it as a learning experience, and I’ll enjoy every chance and opportunity that’s given to me,” he said.
Now part of the official Gilas Boys squad alongside Pascual, Delos Reyes feels determined to go beyond just winning — he wants to make his school proud.
“Malaking bagay ito para sa UE Junior Basketball Program dahil bahagi kami ng Batang Gilas pool,” he vowed.
