MANILA, Philippines - Sisikapin ng Energen-Philippine Youth Team na malagpasan kundi man ay mapantayan ang pagiging fourth-placer ng koponang sumabak sa FIBA-Asia Under-16 Men’s Championships noong 2009.
Sasabak ang Nationals, gagabayan ni dating PBA player Olsen Racela, sa naturang torneo sa Nha Trang City, Vietnam sa Oktubre 18-28.
“We have been preparing for this tournament even when we were playing SEABA (Southeast Asian Basketball Association),” sabi ni Racela. “Even with new players in our line-up, I believe we can still win against Indonesia and Vietnam.”
Ang China ang nagkampeon sa unang edisyon ng torneo noong 2009 kung saan tumapos sa ikaapat na puwesto ang RP Team.
Ang Energen-Phl squad ay binubuo nina Henry Asilum, Hubert Cani, Rev Diputado, Jay Javelosa, Kyles Lao, Earl Murphy, Daryl Pascual, J-Jay Alejandro, Nic Dalafu, Andrei Caracut, Jordan Heading, Tomas Ramos, Prince Rivero at Isaac Go.
“The boys have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to ensure our country will be well represented in the FIBA tournament,” ani team manager Joe Lipa.
Ang Nationals ay kasama ng Indonesia at Vietnam sa Group D, habang nasa Group A ang China, India, Malaysia at Chinese-Taipei; kabilang sa Group B ang Korea, Iraq, Uzbekistan at Lebanon at nasa Group C ang Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia at Japan.