Energen 5 squares off with Saudi in opener

MANILA, Philippines - Energen Pilipinas squares off with Saudi Arabia as it opens its campaign in the 22nd FIBA-Asia Under-18 at the Buyant-Ukhaa Arena in Ulan Bator, Mongolia today.

The Filipinos, who made it here by sweeping the Southeast Asian Basketball Association U-18 Championship in Singapore last month, take on the untested Arabs at 6 p.m. (Phl time), hopeful of their chances for a good start in the biennial 10-day tournament featuring the best in the region, including powerhouse China and Iran.

“The top three will advance so getting a win against Saudi Arabia will help us make it to the second round,” said coach Olsen Racela. “The first game will also help set the tone for our campaign.”

Out to improve their fifth place finish the last time in Sana’A, Yemen, the Nationals will next face Kazakhstan, which finished second in Tehran, Iran four years ago, tomorrow before tackling title contender Iran, the 2008 titlist and fourth placer in 2010, on Sunday.

Racela, who took over from Eric Altamirano, will have at his disposal team captain J-Jay Alejandro, Hubert Cani, Gideon Babilonia, Kristoffer Porter, Marc Olayon, Jerie Pinggoy, Jay Javelosa, Prince Rivero, Mario Bonleon, Kent Lao, Kyle Suarez and Rey Nambatac.

Energen is aiming for a top three finish in a bid to snare a spot in the 2013 FIBA World Under-19 Championship in Prague, Czech Republic.

Also seeing action are nine-time gold medal winner China, host Mongolia, perennial contenders Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Lebanon, and qualifiers Bahrain, Syria, Singapore, Hong Kong, India and the Indonesian team mentored by Filipino coach Nat Canson.

The Chinese are fancied to dominate again with a roster led by Wang Zhelin and Zhou Qi, considered the future of Chinese basketball.

The two players were among the last who were cut from the Chinese squad that played in the London Olympics.

The Koreans and the Japanese, meanwhile, are bringing in the core of their teams that placed second and third, respectively, in last year’s second FIBA Asia U-16 Championship in Nha Tang, Vietnam where the Phl wound up fourth.