B Gilas braces for SEABA U-16

The Batang Gilas national team toughens up against the country’s top collegiate teams in time for the SEABA Under-16 tournament, which unfolds tomorrow at the Xavier University gym in Cagayan de Oro City.

“We went up against teams like San Beda, University of the East, FEU, Arellano, and National University and we were able to give them a good fight,” Batang Gilas coach Michael Oliver said. “We got the kind of workout that we need to toughen us up.”

The Phl will go up against Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in the Asian qualifying event ending April 20.

The SEABA age group tournament is an event usually being dominated by the Filipinos and it’s not surprising for the entire team to have high hopes coming to the event backed by Smart Communications and the MVP Sports Foundation in partnership with the Department of Tourism’s Promotions Board headed by COO Domingo Ramon Enerio III.

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno, also a key official of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, will head the welcoming delegation.

The country’s finest young players will be spearheaded by Sam Josef Belangel, the highscoring guard from Bacolod.

Joining Belangel are other highly touted players led by Gian Mamuyac and Will Gozum.

Other players on the lineup are Jed Colonia, Ralph Escalona, Juan Gomez de Liano, Gillian Flores, Rhayyan Amsali, Romulo Berjay, Jonas Tibayan and Kris Harvey Pagsanjan, and Shaun Ildefonso, son of two-time PBA Most Valuable Player Danny Ildefonso of the Meralco Bolts.