GILAS Pilipinas Youth is off to Greece for the 2019 Fiba Under-19 World Cup after sweeping Al Rayyan in a two-game series in Doha.
The national youth team left the bustling Qatari capital on Thursday, with head coach Sandy Arespacochaga expressing confidence with the squad's chances in the global youth hoops tilt.
AJ Edu and Dalph Panopio led Gilas Youth to another dominant 93-64 win over Al Rayyan on Wednesday (Manila time) in the team's final tuneup game before heading to Heraklion for the World Cup.
The Fil-British Edu racked 18 points, nine rebounds, and one block in the conquest, as the Rome-based Panopio was all over the court with his statline of 14 points, five boards, four assists, and three steals, showing tremendous familiarity despite missing Gilas Youth's earlier buildup in the country.
Nazareth School of National University big man Carl Tamayo also added 11 points in the rout.
The Philippines is slotted in Group C where it will face hosts Greece on Sunday at 1:30 a.m., Argentina on Monday at 1 a.m., and Russia on Wednesday at 1:30 a.m.