This youth team is not as big as the previous ones that had the towering Kai Sotto and AJ Edu, but Josh Reyes is confident it will stomp class in Indonesia.
Rebounding will make a world of difference when the Gilas Pilipinas Boys’ team locks horns in the 2023 SEABA U16 championship a few days from now.
This was what coach Josh Reyes said as the team gears up for the competition in Jakarta, Indonesia which will also serve as a qualifier for the FIBA U16 Asian Championship.
Kieffer Alas, CJ Amos, and Jaime Gomez de Liaño headline the 18-man pool from which Reyes will choose the squad that will compete in the event beginning on July 17. Kieffer is son of renowned coach Louie and brother to PBA's Kevin. CJ is sibling to Ateneo Blue Eagle Mason. Jaime is the younger bro of UP Fighting Maroons alums Juan and Javi.
Reyes knows this iteration of the youth team is not as big as the previous ones that had the towering AJ Edu and Kai Sotto—who's now charting his next path—but is confident it will stomp class in Indonesia.
Well, if they solve their rebounding issues.
“This team is not as big but they’re tough, they can shoot really well and they’re really attentive, they really want to learn the game the right way, and learning the game without sacrificing their strengths and how can their strengths complement each other. You will see them play tough defense, play together, and work together to rise above our lack of ceiling,” he said before reporters via Smart Sports.
“Even though when we were bigger, what’s consistently been the challenge of our youth teams is rebounding. If we can solve our rebounding issues I think we can really be successful and that’s what we’ve been working on.”
That challenge is what drives Reyes and the rest of the team.
“But it’s different, sabi mo nga, from AJ Edu, to Kai Sotto. But thats why it’s satisfying to do as well. These new challenges are really what get me up in the morning and get me excited to work with these young guys,” he said.
The son of five-time PBA Coach of the Year Chot, he bared organizers gave them a month notice about the competition.
“It’s a unique situation because when the FIBA calendar started this wasn’t on it. I think it’s unprecedented that they gave everybody a month notice,” he said.
“When the memo came out about SEABA qualifiers, it’s a very important qualifying tournament, the deadline of submission was already the next weekend.”
But he cannot dwell on that anymore. Right now, the focus is to get this team ready for the four-nation tournament.
Gilas will take on Malaysia on July 17, then Thailand (18) and Indonesia (19).
(GM)