RP Youth team leaves for Iran
By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Nokia-Philippine Youth team leaves for Tehran, Iran today hoping to end a long title-drought in the FIBA-Asia Basketball Championship for Junior Men set on Aug. 28 to Sept. 5.
Despite facing an uphill battle to reclaim the country’s long lost glory in the tough tournament, the Nationals, composed of collegiate cagers aged 18 years old and under, are confident of putting up a decent show this time around.
"Everybody is excited and healthy. This is going to be a great experience for the boys and we all hope that things will turn out well," said RP coach Franz Pumaren, who is likely to miss two games of the La Salle Archers in the UAAP during the duration of the Asian Youth tourney.
Pumaren, however, added the campaign would be tougher than it seems since they have no knowledge about the strength of their rivals.
"Except for Taiwan, we have no idea of the other teams (in our bracket). It’s going to be a great challenge for us, but the boys will certainly have to work hard," said Pumaren.
The Nationals are bracketed in Group C along with Lebanon and United Arab Emirates.
Defending champion China leads Hong Kong, India and Japan in Group A, while last year’s runner-up Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan and Jordan are bracketed in Group B.
Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Syria and host Iran make up the Group D.
The RP Youth squad earned a berth in the tournament after sweeping the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship last May in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The country last won the Asian crown in 1982, when the team, headed by Hector Calma, beat China.