With the FIBA Under-19 World Cup just a few months away, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has been looking for a head coach who will steer Batang Gilas for the continental meet over the past few weeks.
And they did not look any further as multiple sources closely monitoring the situation told Tiebreaker Times that Ateneo Blue Eagles lead assistant Sandy Arespacochaga will most likely be the one tasked to rebuild the country’s youth basketball program.
Currently, the Boys’ National Basketball Team is preparing for two tournaments.
The FIBA Under-19 World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 29 to July 7 in Heraklion, Greece. The likes of Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, and Dalph Panopio are expected to lead this squad that will take on the host, Argentina, and Russia in the group stages.
Later in the year, the next generation of young prospects will compete in the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship in Beijing, China.
One of the sources added that Arespacochaga was seen as the clear cut favorite to land the job because of his plans to have a comprehensive youth basketball program that will run for the years to come.
Arespacochaga is no stranger to the national team as he was tapped as an advance scout for Gilas Pilipinas during the 6th window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
In addition, he is currently an assistant coach to the TNT Katropa.
If all goes well, Arespacochaga takes over the post previously held by Josh Reyes, who was the one who steered Batang Gilas to the U19 World Cup after a fourth-place finish in the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship.
