GILAS Pilipinas Youth is searching for talents after reaching the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup this year.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officials led by executive director Erika Dy and talent identification head Norman Black are in the US for the SBP Las Vegas Showcase where the main goal is to find players with Filipino blood and encourage them to join the national team.
Black is also in charge of looking for players from the countryside through SBP’s basketball clinics in the provinces.
Gilas Men head coach Tim Cone supports the SBP’s plans for continuity after the youth team reached the recently-concluded FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey where it was one of 16 teams that competed.
It was the first time that the Philippines reached the world stage since Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, and Carl Tamayo were part of the 2018 team that saw action in Argentina.
“The World Cup just finished in Turkey. That team was good… they just really lacked size. They need to go out and find guys that can compete at the world stage that are bigger. That’s what Norman and Erika are looking to do," he said.
“It’s a real process that goes throughout the year. We only see the end result which is the Gilas team. But there is a lot of stuff going on with the youth team.”
Gilas Youth runway cleared for takeoff
In their road to the World Cup last year, the Filipinos finished with a 2-1 win-loss record in the group stage, beating Kazakhstan, 66-42, and Malaysia, 75-52.
Gilas Youth then downed Korea, 95-71, for the former's first win against the latter in a FIBA youth level competition, which also earned them a place in the quarterfinals. They went on to defeat Japan, 64-59, in the semifinals to clinch the World Cup berth after coming back from a 10-point halftime deficit.
Oceania teams Australia and New Zealand finished in the top two, with China and the Philippines being the next two, as the only countries from Asia to make it to the World Cup.
READ: Andy Gemao leads Gilas Pilipinas Youth in FIBA U18 Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers
The Under-18 team, meanwhile, is currently looking to make it to the World Cup as well, as it competes in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers beginning on Friday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
