Energen Phl 5 seeks to better Fiba U-16 finish

MANILA, Philippines - The Energen Phl youth team hopes to buck the absence of its veteran players as it tries to match, if not surpass, its fourth place finish the first time out in the second FIBA-Asia Under-16 Men’s Championships slated Oct. 18-28 in Nha Trang City in Vietnam.

“Our goal is to win the tournament or perhaps improve on our fourth place finish in Johore Baru, Malaysia,” said Energen Pilipinas team manager Jose Lopa in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Shakey’s U.N. Ave.

“The boys have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to ensure our country will be well represented in the FIBA tournament and continue our campaign to regain supremacy in Asian basketball,” he added.

The Nationals’ title drive, however, suffered a setback after two of their mainstays, Arvin Tolentino of San Beda and Gelo Vito of La Salle-Greenhills, begged off due to their school commitments.

Both Tolentino and Vito’s teams are currently playing in the Final Four of the ongoing 87th NCAA season.

The duo were vital cogs in the country’s title sweep of the Southeast Asian Basketball Association U16 Championship in Banting, Malaysia last August.

“We have been preparing for this FIBA tournament even when we were playing SEABA,” said Energen Pilipinas coach Olsen Racela, who skipped the forum to attend Petron Blaze’s practice.

In the absence of Tolentino and Vito, the team, sponsored by Energen, which is distributed by TriDharma Marketing Corp., will rely on the other SEABA veterans in Henry Asilum of Sacred Heart-Cebum, NU’s Hubert Cani, San Beda’s Rev Diputado, Xavier’s Kyles Lao, Reedley’s Jay Javelosa, Ateneo’s Earl Murphy and Arellano U’s Daryl Pascual.

“Half of them are SEABA veterans while the other half will see action in their first international game. But all of them share the ultimate dream of playing for flag and country,” said Racela.

Expected to fill in the slack are Malayan’s J-Jay Alejandro, Victory’s Nic Dalafu, San Beda’s Andrei Caracut, Morrison Academy’s Jordan Heading, Ateneo’s Tomas Ramos, NU’s Prince Rivero and Xavier’s Isaac Go.

Racela said quickness will be their primary weapon against bigger and taller teams in the region.

“All our plays, as well as offensive and defensive patterns, are based on our quickness,” said Racela.