The Under-17 team of Batang Gilas Pilipinas has been together for over a year. Behind floor generals Terrence Fortea and Rence Padrigao, the squad conquered the 2017 SEABA U-16 Championship before proving to be one of the top teams in Asia during the 2017 FIBA U-16 Asian Championship.
Now entering the final stage of this journey, the team has added another floor general to the squad: 2018 NBTC Most Outstanding Player Gerry Abadiano from NS-NU.
Though a late addition to the squad bound for Sante Fe, Argentina, Abadiano shared that the transition has been easy.
“Siyempre nung una nagkakahiyaan pa pero nung tumagal nagiging komportable na kami sa isa’t isa,” Abadiano shared during the Chooks-to-Go-hosted sendoff for Batang Gilas last week.
A potent scorer, the 5-foot-9 guard looks to play a different role this time – to be the team’s floor general.
“Ako siguro yung maghahanap ng advantage – hanapin yung open shooters at yung mga big man sa ilalim. Ako yung magiging creator sa team na ito,” he said.
Coach Josh Reyes and the team’s staff have given him the freedom to do whatever he wants on the court. And what excites Abadiano the most is having two big men underneath in Kai Sotto and Carl Tamayo.
“Siyempre advantage sa amin yung height. Pag magcommit yung bantay sa amin, puwede direct pass o lob pass sa ilalim,” beamed the Ilonggo guard.
Safe to say, Abadiano’s transition has been smooth sailing, which will only lead to good things for Batang Gilas.
