RP five opens Asia U-16 quest vs Japan

JOHOR BAHRU – After dominating the four-nation pocket tournament in Cebu City last week, expectations are high for Nokia U-16 Team Pilipinas as it begins its title bid in the FIBA-Asia U-16 Championship today at the Bandaraya Stadium in this Western Malaysian province.

Skippered by Ateneo de Manila hotshot Keifer Ravena, the Filipinos will be facing a dangerous Japanese squad in the final game of the seven-game opening-day salvo.

Game time is at 7 p.m. followed by a brief opening ceremony where Fiba-Asia secretary-general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock will welcome all 16 teams in this tourney, which offers two tickets to the FIBA U-17 World Championship in Hamburg, Germany next year.

The Philippines is bunched in Group B along with Kazakhstan, Bahrain and Japan – a squad oozing with talent and potential with sharpshooter Ryo Tawatari as the marked man.

Tawatari, a 16-year old gunner who was part of the Mythical Team in the invitational tourney bankrolled by Nokia in Cebu, is expected to give the smaller, but aggressive Filipinos a run for their money, especially with 6-foot-5 Yoto Aretami, 6-foot-7 Kosute Hasimoto and 6-foot-4 Taiki Uehara patrolling the paint.

But RP mentor Eric Altamirano is undaunted.

“We can’t take the Japanese lightly, I know they have yet to play their best after the Cebu tournament,” said Altamirano, referring to the squad which they thrashed in the mini-tournament, 71-59.

After playing Japan, the Philippines will face Kazakhstan tomorrow and Bahrain on Saturday before the quarterfinal hostilities start on Sunday. Continental powerhouses China, Iran, Korea and Lebanon are also expected to dominate their respective brackets for having taller lineup.

“This is a very tough tournament,” RP team manager Joel Lopa said. “We have to play each game as if it is our last. Although the Cebu leg is a good start, we still have to work doubly hard to advance to the quarterfinals, semifinals and, hopefully, the finals.”

Aside from Ravena, who was crowned as the Most Valuable Player after erupting for 24 points in their 89-83 victory over Iran in the finals of the pre-tournament exhibition series, also expected to shine are Angelo Alolino, Michael Tolomia, Paolo Romero, Von Pessumal, Jeron Teng and Dan Sara.