Tuesday, August 05, 2008 RP joins Fiba Asia Junior tilt
THE RP YOUTH squad will be tested against neighboring Asian countries in the 20th Fiba Asia Junior Championships on Aug. 28 to Sept. 5 in Iran.
However, the squad, mentored by Franz Pumaren, needs some luck as it is in Group C along with Chinese Taipei, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.
A total of 16 countries will be participating in this biennial competition with defending champion China leading the pack in the 9-day tournament that will be held at the Azadi Basketball hall.
China is in Group A together with Hong Kong, India and Japan.
South Korea, the runnerup in 2006 in Urumqi City, China paces Group B together with Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan and Syria.
Lebanon and Chinese-Taipei were third and fourth placers, respectively while UAE and the Philippines were unseeded.
Host Iran leads Group D with Malaysia, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
The Philippines has not won the Asian Under-18 championship since 1981 and the last team to win it was was coached by Ron Jacobs with Hector Calma, Leo Austria, Derrick Pumaren and the late Alfie Almario as the star players.
This year the Philippines will be sending Norberto Torres, Frank Golla, Gabriel Banal, Ryan Roose Garcia, Joel Tolentino, Mark Joel de Guzman, Ian Sangalang, Jed Manguera, Kyle Pascual, Joseph Terso, Samuel Joseph Marata, Jaypee de Guzman, Mark Anthony Lopez, Mark Joven Mendoza and Philip Paredes.
To prepare the team, the Samahang Baskitbol ng Pilipinas has organized the Nokia Manila Youth Invitational Championships from Aug. 14 to 17 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasig City.
The Philippines will play China, Chinese-Taipei and Lithuania. (RCM)
