THE Philippine boys U-16 team got a special pep talk from Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes and a former star youth player now with the men’s training pool team prior to its departure to Surabaya, Indonesia for the 2023 SEABA Championship.
Batang Gilas gets pep talk
Reyes and men’s training pool member AJ Edu briefly met the Batang Gilas during their final practice at the Meralco gym on Thursday and gave them encouraging words for their coming campaign in the tournament that serves as qualifier to the FIBA U16 Asian Championship this September.
In his talk with the youth team led by NBA Academy alum Kieffer Alas and Irus Chua, Reyes emphasized three things.
“One, is the value of hard work. Then, to be a good teammate, and lastly, the honor of playing for the name in the front of their jersey,” said the men’s national team coach.
Edu for his part, related about his experience playing for the Gilas U-18 team in the 2018 FIBA Asian Championship, which he led to a fourth place finish to clinch a berth in the 2019 FIBA U-19 World Cup.
Former national coach and one-time Gilas deputy Norman Black also spent some time prepping up the youth squad.
Handled by Josh Reyes, the Batang Gilas left Friday afternoon for their six-hour flight to Indonesia via Air Asia.
Aside from Alas and Chua, other members of the team include Ziv Espinas, CJ Amos, Elijah Williams, Paul Diao, Edryn Morales, Bon Daja, Joaquin Ludovice, Gian Gomez, Bryan Hachuela, Kurt Vasquez, Daniel Sta. Maria, and Champ Arejola.
The Philippines will play a single round robin with Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, with the top two teams earning berths in the Asian Championship slated in Qatar.
Still, the younger Reyes isn’t taking chances.
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