Phl U18 joins Filoil tourney

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Youth Under-18 squad toughens up for the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) Championships next month as it vies in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup on April 28 at The Arena in San Juan.

San Beda’s Andrei Caracut, Thirdy Ravena and John Apacible from Ateneo, Paul Desiderio from UP, Richard Escoto from FEU, and Jolo Go from Hope Christian High School banner the squad which is bracketed with NCAA defending champion San Beda and first runner-up Letran, FEU, Lyceum, Mapua, and St. Clare in Group B.

The Nationals play the FEU Tams at 4 p.m.

Head coach Jamike Jarin sees the team’s participation as “a gauge on how we can compete against the best.”

“In as much as this also serves as preparation for the players’ participation in their mother tournaments like the UAAP and the NCAA, for the Under 18, the team effort is preparation for the SEABA tilt on May 3,” said U-18 assistant coach Ricky Reyes.

“We were fortunate that Filoil allowed us to play in the tournament because that will give us valuable experience. What coach Jamike wants to see is their intensity level and how they will rise up against the challenge of playing against teams loaded with championship experience and veteran leadership,” added Reyes.

Other members of the team are Aaron Black, Dave Yu, Dawn Ochea, Mark Dyke, Ranbill Tongco, Leonard Santillan, Henry Asilum, Manuel Mosqueda, Aron Manguera, Rendell Senining, Renzo Subido, Andrey Armenion, Jerrick Balanza, Ricci Rivero, Amando San Juan, Isaac Go, and JP Caulian.

“Before the players signed up to be a part of the national team, we were able to secure their release and participation,” said Reyes. “So this is good exposure.”