When Gilas Pilipinas watched the Batang Gilas game against Indonesia on Monday morning, Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, and Matthew Wright could not help but be nostalgic, looking back to the days when they had been part of the RP Youth Team.
“Kahapon lang sinabi ni coach Chot [Reyes] na yung schedule na manonood kami ng game ng Batang Gilas. Ako excited na makita sila kasi naalala ko nung naglaro din ako ng 18-under,” shared Jayson Castro, who played for the 2004 youth team.
“Parang naisip ko nung naglalaro ako, nakita ko ang sarili ko sa kanila.”
“Siyempre parang nakita ko yung sarili ko nung unang laro ko sa national team. Ganyan na ganyan, payat, di pa masyadiong marunong,” Troy Rosario added.
Currently, the players for Batang Gilas are just in their teen years – the formative stage where they try to carve their paths. And for Matthew Wright, who played under coach Franz Pumaren back in 2008, his time with the youth team made him realize that he was playing for something much bigger.
“That was the first time I actually played for something bigger than myself – bigger than a club team, bigger than a school team. That was the first time I actually had to be selfless.
“My whole life, I’ve been selfish with basketball – you’re trying to be the best, you’re trying to get the accolades for the next level. RP Youth was the first time I actually played for the country. It gave me a sense of pride and that was the first time I really felt pride in being Filipino,” Gilas’ 26-year-old sniper reflected.
The lessons learned by being part of that team is something that the players will bring for the rest of their lives, added Rosario.
“‘Pag naglaro ka sa national team, ikaw ang titignan. Sa akin, nadala ko yung disiplina.
“Sa ganitong games, lalo na yung every day na game, kung paano alagaan ang katawan mo kasi mahirap maglaro every day. Kailangan talag ng disiplina sa pahinga at sa kinakain mo,” added Rosario, who was part of the stacked 2010 team handled by Eric Altamirano.
And as the big brothers to Batang Gilas, they plan to continue to support the U-16 team in their SEABA campaign just as their seniors had supported them back then.
“Malaking tulong na nakikita mo yung senior mo na nanonood sa ‘yo. Naalala ko dati, nanonood yung mga PBA players at college players sa practice,” Rosario expressed.
“Syempre pag nakita mo yun, nagkakaroon ako ng confidence pa na maglaro, kahit sa practice man yun. Nakaka-boost talaga.”
“Minotivate din namin yung mga players, binigyan ng pointers. Para sa akin, malaking tulong yung mga ganun para sa mga bata,” Castro opined.
