Batang Gilas tryouts slated

MANILA, Philippines – Determined to improve on its fifth-place finish in 2014, the Philippine Batang Gilas is to embark on an early preparation for the U18 Southeast Asia Basketball (SEABA) Championship and the FIBA Asia tournament in 2016.

Team manager Andrew Teh announced tryouts on Dec. 18-20 at the Meralco Gym in Pasig.

The tryouts, to be conducted by head coach Michael Oliver, will start at 8 p.m. on Dec. 18 for players born in the months of January to April for the years 1998 and 1999. For Batang Gilas hopefuls born from May to August of 1998 and 1999, the process resumes at 5 p.m. on Dec. 19. The last day of tryouts, set for players born from September to December of 1998 and 1999, begins at 4 p.m. on Dec. 20. 

Teh said players joining the tryouts are required to present an authenticated (NSO) birth certificate upon registration.

In the 2014 U18 FIBA Asia in Doha, the Philippines placed fifth behind China, Iran, South Korea and Chinese Taipei.

The Phl boys were relegated to the consolation round following an 86-90 loss to the Taiwanese in the quarterfinals.