Two Fil-Ams to boost Phl U-16 squad

MANILA, Philippines -    A pair of Fil-Am cagers are coming over this month to backstop the Energen Pilipinas Under-16 basketball squad seeking a berth in the second FIBA-Asia U-16 Championship for Junior Men slated Oct. 18-28 in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Guard Louie Boy Brill and forward Adam King Gupilan are joining team practice late this month with both players tipped to land spots in the team competing in the second Southeast Asian Basketball Association U-16 Qualifying Championship from Aug. 9-13 in Banting City, Selangor, Malaysia which offers slots for the Vietnam meet.

“They’re arriving next week and we’re excited to have them in the team,” said Energen Pilipinas coach Olsen Racela in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Shakey’s in UN Ave., referring to Brill and Gupilan.

The 5-10 Brill is playing for Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Maryland, Washington while the 6-4 Gupilan is studying at Bellarmine-Jefferson High in Burbank, California.

“Louie Boy (Brill) played with the team then coached by Eric Altamirano when they trained in Indiana last year while Gupilan is coming over to play for San Beda,” said Racela. “They’re both talented and they would be big help to the team.”

But some team members tend to disagree, saying one of the two is not that impressive although they welcomed the decision to include them in the squad so as to know their real worth.

The squad was formed as early as four months ago with 20 out of the 200 that tried out and made it to the pool, including 6-3 Geloi Vito of La Salle-Greenhills and Henry Asilum of Sacred Heart of Ateneo in Cebu.

The other members of the team are J-Jay Alejandro, G-Boy Babilonia, Hubert Cani, Andrei Caracut, Reb Diputado, JJ Domingo, Jay Javelosa, Kyles Lao, Kiefer Lim, Earl Murphy, Daryl Pascual, Tomas Ramos, Prince Rivero, Renzo Subido, Arvin Tolentino, Radge Tongco, Nick Dalafu and Isaac Go.