AFTER three blowouts, Gilas Pilipinas Youth braces for a tougher challenge on Wednesday when it takes on Indonesia in the Fiba U16 Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Coming off a 64-point rout of Singapore on Monday for their third straight win, the Filipino teenage dribblers tangle with the only other undefeated team in the six-team field in the Indonesians at 7 p.m.
READ Jolo Pascual details huge sacrifices for Gilas Youth
Gilas Youth coach LA Tenorio feels it could be a finals preview with the way Indonesia has been playing, fresh from a 70-62 win over Thailand for a similar 3-0 record on Monday.
“These next two games will be, I think, a big test for us. Especially against Indonesia. Buti na lang mayroon kaming break (kahapon),” Tenorio said. “We can rest up and then be ready for Indonesia.”
“For now, sa nakita namin, sila 'yung makakalaban namin if ever we go all the way to the finals,” the rookie national coach added.
The top two countries at the end of the elimination round will face off in the finale on the last day of the competition on Friday. The top three teams will advance to the Fiba U16 Asia Cup main tournament in August in Mongolia.
The Tuesday breather couldn’t have come at a better time for a Gilas side that sat out captain Jolo Pascual and kept Travis Pascual and Chris Miranda in minutes restriction against Singapore on Monday.
“We have some injuries na banged up na yung mga players. Actually, coming to this tournament, medyo banged up na because of a lot of tournaments outside. Before this SEABA, sa mga schools nila.”
So expect them to be fresher against a finals contender.
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