Drought in FIBA U18 Asia Cup

The FIBA U18 Asia Cup used to be known as the Asian Basketball Confederation Junior or Youth Championships and it’s been a fixture in the regional basketball calendar since 1970. The Philippines was nearly untouchable in the formative years, winning six of the first seven titles. But it’s been 42 years since the last ascension.

Ron Jacobs was the coach who brought the last title to the Philippines in 1982. Before an overflow crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, the Philippines defeated China, 74-63, for the gold medal. The players on the squad were Hector Calma, Jong Uichico, Leo Austria, Tonichi Yturri, Derick Pumaren, Elmer Reyes, Jun Tan, Luis Brill, Alfie Almario, Rey Cuenco, Teddy Alfarero and Richard Mendoza. In the final, Almario shot 20 points and Calma compiled 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The tournament’s 27th edition will unfold in Amman, Jordan, on Sept. 2-9 with 16 teams split into four groups of four in the eliminations. The Philippines is bracketed in Group D with New Zealand, Jordan and Indonesia. The Philippines’ first game is against Indonesia on Sept. 2 then Jordan on Sept. 3 and New Zealand on Sept. 4. The top team from each group advances to the quarterfinals outright. On Sept. 6, teams finishing second and third in each group will playoff for a quarterfinals slot in a crossover pairing where Group D faces Group C and Group A meets Group B. Group C teams are China, Japan, Qatar and Kazakhstan. The quarterfinals will be on Sept. 7, semis on Sept. 8 and final on Sept. 9. The four semifinalists will represent Asia at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland, on June 28-July 6 next year.

The Philippines was unbeaten in the SEABA qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur last July to book a ticket to the FIBA U18 Asia Cup. The other qualifier was Indonesia. They battled in the final which the Philippines won, 87-64. Both teams will reprise their rivalry on opening day of this year’s FIBA U18 Asia Cup. The Philippines has never engaged New Zealand on the U18 level so their encounter is a must-watch.

Philippine coach Josh Reyes said the team’s 12-man lineup was finalized after tryouts involving 26 players plus the 12 who saw action in the recent FIBA U17 World Cup. The only carryover from the FIBA U17 World Cup roster is 5-10 Joaquin Ludovice of UST. Others in the cast are 6-1 Andy Gemao of Royal Crown School, Toronto, 6-3 Earl Medina of Adamson, 6-8 Allen Perez of Adamson, 5-10 Mark Esperanza of Adamson, 6-5 Wilhelm Cabonilas of FEU, 6-5 Marc Burgos of FEU, 6-5 Charles Esteban of UST, 6-2 Carl Manding of UST, 6-5 Johnkurl Figueroa of NU, 6-4 Drei Lorenzo of UE and 5-11 Jericho Santos of Chaminade Prep School, Missouri. “All are still in high school and requested for official excuse from their schools,” said Reyes. “In the whole history of the FIBA U18, the Philippines has qualified only twice for the FIBA U19 World Cup (in 1979 and in 2019).” The team arrived in Jordan last Tuesday “to maximize available preparation time and play friendlies.”