NHA TRANG CITY, Vietnam – Energen Pilipinas has won its first two games in the second FIBA-Asia U-16 Championship with plenty to spare, but coach Olsen Racela says the tournament hasn’t really started for his team.
“We’re 2-0 (win-loss) and it’s okay, but it’s hard to gauge our game with the level of competition that we’ve faced. It was really weak,” said Racela.
“But I know that the level of play of our players will get high when we face the tough teams, and I expect that to happen against Saudi Arabia and Japan,” he added.
The Phl boys, who overpowered Indonesia, 93-30, last Wednesday and host Vietnam, 111-25, Thursday, were playing Qatar at press time. Yesterday was the start of phase two of the elimination stage.
A win over the Qataris would assure the Phl boys a quarterfinal berth.
Then the Filipinos would get real competition against the Saudis (1-1) at 8 p.m. on Sunday (Phl time) and the Japanese, who swept Group C, also at 8 p.m. Monday in matches that will determine the top seeding in the quarterfinals.
“Things will change in our games against Saudi Arabia and Japan. That’s where the tournament really starts for us,” said Racela.
The youthful Energen Pilipinas coach said going through a weak group in the first stage of the elims could work either way, and it’s a concern.
“We’re not able to gauge ourselves. But it can work to our advantage because the other teams were already pushed to the limit and we’re not even in the quarterfinals yet,” he said.
“We’ve been lucky the past few days with the draw; the withdrawal of Iran. I just hope our luck continues up to the quarters and maybe further,” he added.
Energen Pilipinas, however, might have to do without guard Kyles Lao, who suffered a left ankle sprain after he accidentally stepped on a foot of a Vietnam player.
“Definitely, he’ll sit out tonight’s (last night’s) game and probably the Saudi Arabia game,” said Racela of Lao, who’s one of the team best scoring guards.
“Our target for him is to play against Japan and I’m confident he’ll be okay for that important game,” Racela added.
The Nationals are already missing San Beda’s Arvin Tolentino, Gideon Babilonia and Radge Tongco and La Salle-Greenhills’ Gelo Vito, who have commitments with their respective schools in the NCAA.
But Racela is expected his other players headed by the troika Jordan Heading, Prince Rivero and Jay Javelosa, who combined for 58 points in the Vietnam triumph, to step up in the absence of Lao.
The other members of the team are Jay Alejandro III, Isaac Go, Tomas Ramos, Anhubert Cani, Nick Dalafu, Rev Diputado, Andrei Caracut and Cebu pride Henry Asilum with Earl Murphy and Daryl Pascual as reserves.
FIBA-Asia U16 notes: Usually, Lao’s left ankle sprain injury would take a week to heal but the team was steadfast to put the Xavier standout to a tedious therapy conducted by team physical therapist Jimbo Corres....Vietnam having its first professional basketball team is a big news in this country more known for football and other sports. The Vietnamese will be fielding the Saigon Heat in the Asean Basketball Association starting in January next year...The Nationals have been treated to a daily dose of Filipino delicacies, thanks to a small Filipino workers here.
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