Batang Gilas leaves for Argentina HD

Batang Gilas embarked on a long and taxing odyssey to Argentina last night armed with high hopes that the Nationals can come up with a better showing in their return trip to the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup that gets going later this month. Aboard the Emirates Flight EK 247, the Batang Gilas contingent, led by head coach Mike Oliver and ace big man Kai Zachary Sotto, left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 8:25 p.m. and travelled for eight hours to reach the Dubai International Airport for a three-hour layover. After a brief respite, the Nationals will then brace themselves for an 18-hour, non-stop trip before landing in the Ministro Pistarini International Airport in the Argentinian capital city of Buenos Aires at around 8 p.m. on Friday (7 a.m. on Saturday, Manila time). “Since we now have enough talent and the size that we lacked before, I really believe we can do better this time,” said Oliver, who served as the top deputy of former Batang Gilas coach Jamike Jarin during the the Nationals’ 15th place showing in the 2014 edition held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. “But we know the job won’t get any easier since we are in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ in Group D. Our groupmates are all ranked in the world’s Top 10 so we will really have our hands full,” he added, referring to the host country, seeded seventh, along with No. 8 Croatia and No. 9 France, the reigning European titleholder. Still, Oliver is convinced that the current batch of Batang Gilas, perhaps the strongest unit that they have assembled so far, has what it takes to spring some surprises much like what it did during its fourth-place finish in the FIBA Asia tilt last April. To further gear up the young Nationals, Oliver said that they will conduct a one-week training camp in Buenos Aires, highlighted by at least three tune-up matches, with fellow hopefuls New Zealand and Canada already confirming their availability. The Nationals will then travel to Rosario, a vast city located in central Argentina, and will open their title campaign against the Croatians on June 30. The French, led by top NBA prospect Killian Hayes, will test their mettle the following day before wrapping up their preliminary play against the hosts on July 3. Tapped to join the 16-strong Batang Gilas pool are Carl Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano, Bismarck Lina, Migs Pascual, Raven Cortez, Forthsky Padrigao, RC Calimag, Terrence Fortea, Joshua Lazaro, Geo Chiu, Yukien Andrada, Mac Guadana, Jerick Bautista, King Balaga and Rafael Go.