Gilas Youth will rely on athleticism and chemistry to overcome the tall order they will face in the 2022 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship from June 12-19 in Doha, Qatar.
Named to the final 12 are 5-foot-9 Jared Bahay (Sacred Heart-Ateneo de Cebu), 5-foot-11 Lebron Nieto (Ateneo High School), 6-foot-4 Jacob Bayla (Valley Christian HS), 6-foot-1 Andy Gemao (NSNU), 6-foot-2 Renzo Competente (Citrus Valley HS), and 6-foot-1 Santi Romero (La Salle Green Hills) for the backcourt.
Completing the team are 6-foot-5 Caelum Harris (Stewart Creek HS), 6-foot-5 Kristian Porter (AHS), 6-foot-2 Jayden Jones (Desert Oasis HS), 6-foot-5 Basti Reyes (College of Sciences, Technology, and Communications), 6-foot-6 Zain Mahmood (Al Red HS), and 6-foot-5 Alex Konov (Manasquan HS).
Gilas Youth will be entering the tournament with an average height of just 6-foot-2, according to FIBA.basketball.
Though Kuwait has yet to release its lineup, returning youth team head coach Josh Reyes knows that they will field a tough team.
“Kuwait has always been a contender in their region together with Bahrain. They are no pushovers,” said Reyes.
Meanwhile, Japan will also have a team that has a 6-foot-2 height average. The difference though is that they have an uber-athletic power forward in 6-foot-6 Shawn Marion Williams and a 6-foot-8 center in Leon Watanabe.
Reyes admitted that there is no room for error for Gilas’ Under-16 squad come the tournament.
If they don’t top the group, a possible showdown against Group A’s Australia might happen in the quarterfinals.
“it’s doable but we have to be our best to qualify for the World Cup,” said Reyes. “If we don’t top the group, we will be slotted with Australia.
“It leaves us no room for error.”
Gilas take on Kuwait at 1:15 AM on June 14 (Manila time). A few hours later, they face Japan at 8:45 PM.
