THE Gilas Pilipinas Youth team is going to the FIBA U19 World Cup not just to participate but to compete and win games.
Blessed with the tallest youth team ever assembled, coach Sandy Arespacochaga is looking to clinch a quarterfinal berth, or go even higher, in the June 29 to July 7 showpiece in Heraklion, Greece.
Arespacochaga said the order came from no less than Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio since the Gilas Pilipinas men's team is also aiming for a quarterfinal berth in the Fiba World Cup in China.
"MVP gives them a Top 16 finish," said Panlilio of the Gilas men's team. "I want this team to have a higher finish than that. All I can say is everybody is behind you."
For his part, Arespacochaga added, “We will not go to Greece just to participate. Our goal is to try to win.”
The entire team, bannered by promising bigs Ariel John Edu and Kai Sotto, were given a send-off by the SBP late Monday afternoon at the famed Lighthouse of the Meralco Building in Ortigas and attended no less by Smart Communications and PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, who is also SBP chairman emeritus, along with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Ricky Vargas.
Aside from Edu and Sotto, members of the young team include Gerry Abadiano, Bismarck Lina, Geo Chiu, Carl Tamayo, Rhayyan Amsali, Joshua Ramirez, Migs Oczon, Dave Ildefonso, Terrence Fortea, James Spencer, and Dalph Panopio.
Arespacochaga was joined by his coaching staff composed of Ryan Betia and Anton Altamirano, along with team manager Andrew Teh, and Gilas Pilipinas men’s team counterpart Gabby Cui.
The Gilas Youth team opens its campaign against the host team on June 29, followed by Argentina on the 30th, and then Russia on July 2.
“We have a tough schedule, but we also have tough players,” said Arespacochaga.
The team will have a tune-up game against University of the East on Tuesday and then against Far Eastern University on Thursday.
On Friday, the team departs for Doha, Qatar for its final training camp, where the Filipinos will play two games on the 23rd and 25th.
“We’re also going to visit Filipino communities in Doha, as well as make a courtesy call to the Philippine Embassy there,” added Arespacochaga.
The team then leaves Qatar on the 27th on its way to Greece.
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