Back in 2013, brothers Matt and Mike Nieto made history with Batang Gilas.
During that year’s FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship in Tehran, the Philippines finished second, punching the country’s ticket to the World Cup in Dubai.
(C) FIBA.basketball
It was the first time the country’s youth team entered the global stage.
(C) FIBA.basketball
Nine years later, another Nieto looks to make history.
Lebron was named as part of the Gilas Youth team that will compete in this year’s edition of the tournament in Doha. Moreover, the 17-year-old guard was also given the task of being the captain of the youth team.
It’s a job the Ateneo High School standout takes into heart.
“The feeling na napili as the captain is masaya siya at masarap sa pakiramdam,” said Lebron to SMART Sports.
“But as a captain kasi hindi ibig sabihin nun na ako yung pinakamataas. Ang ibig nun is ako yung magbibigay ng leadership and to be a role model sa teammates ko.”
Being a captain is a natural for the Nietos.
Their eldest sister Shawntel Nicole not only led Ateneo’s women’s badminton team in the UAAP but is also becoming one of the standout youth leaders in the country today.
Meanwhile, brothers Matt and Mike have both been the skippers of Gilas across all levels.
Photo by PBA Images
Growing up, Lebron shared that he looked up to them for their leadership traits.
“Feel ko similarities ko sa mga kapatid ko is yung work ethic nila kasi growing up, I always see them working hard kaya naging role model sila sa akin,” said Lebron.
“Growing up, I’ve always wanted to continue what they’ve done and to also build my own legacy.”
Before leaving for Doha, the Nieto twins had one piece of advice for their younger brother.
“Para sa akin, wala namang pressure na kailangan kong habulin kasi nakapasok sila kuya.
“Sabi nila sa akin that this opportunity is once in a lifetime kaya enjoy ko dapat yung opportunity na ‘to and to always help my team to win. Also, huwag kabahan, to follow the coaches, and again, enjoy the moment dahil hindi natin alam kung mangyayari pa ulit yung pagkakataon na ito,” said Lebron.
Despite saying that there is no pressure, Lebron knows that wearing the Pilipinas jersey has a lot of weight on it.
Definitely, they want to make it to the podium. Definitely, they want to punch their ticket to Malaga.
Definitely, they want to lift the Philippines to its third appearance in the World Cup.
It’s easy to dream, stresses Lebron. But turning it into reality needs a lot of work.
“Yung goals ko sa upcoming FIBA Asia is siyempre to win but hindi siya guaranteed. I expect the team na paghihirapan namin yun sa practices and both on and off the court. Ine-expect namin na dadaan kami sa hirap to get to the Worlds.”
