Filipino basketball fans in UAE can have a glimpse of the future of Philippine basketball. A young team, Batang Gilas, is set to compete in FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Dubai next month.
They are going up against the future basketball superstars in the world and possibly in the NBA. They are grouped with Angola, Greece and the powerhouse USA in Group A of the elimination bracket.
Members of Batang Gilas are:
- Diego Dario (UP Fighting Maroons)
- Paul Desiderio (UP Fighting Maroons)
- Carlo Abadeza (La Salle Green Hills Greenies),
- Michael Louise Dela Cruz (La Salle Green Hills Greenies)
- Richard Escoto (FEU Tamaraws)
- Lorenzo Navarro (San Sebastian Staglets)
- Jolo Mendoza (Ateneo Blue Eaglets)
- Matt Nieto (Ateneo Blue Eaglets)
- Mike Nieto (Ateneo Blue Eaglets)
- Arnie Padilla (Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu)
- Jose Go IV (Hope Christian HS)
- Emmanuel Panlilio (International School-Manila).
They will be coached by multi-titled UAAP juniors mentor Jamike .
The Philippines being one of the shortest teams in any international basketball tournament will really on their #Puso (heart) to play it all and try to win games.
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| Jolo Mendoza – Photo from FIBA U17 |
The Ateneo Blue Eaglets representatives are expected to lead the team with Jolo Mendoza being the current MVP of the U16 Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) tournament. And the twins Matt and Mike Nieto are expected to provide key roles for Batang Gilas.
The Group Phase and Round of 16 will be played in Al-Wasl Arena and Al-Ahli Arena (8-12 August). The Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals will be played in the Hamdan Sports Complex.
They’ll play Angola on August 8, Greece on 9th and USA on 11th.
For inquiries, call +971 4 306 2666.