Ateneo commit Kyle Gamber joins a slew of La Salle High School standouts in the boys team while streaky shooter Kristan Yumul banners the girls team anew in their respective FIBA Under-18 Asian Championships.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director and spokesperson Sonny Barrios announced the rosters of the Gilas Pilipinas Youth teams on Tuesday, Aug. 9 during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
Eight players will team up with Gamber in the team which will be handled by head coach Josh Reyes, including La Salle Greenhills and Zobel standouts Ethan Alian, Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate, LA Andres, and Joshua Coronel along with incoming freshmen EJ Abadam and Mur Alao.
Mason Amos of Ateneo, Kobe Demisana of UPIS, James Nacua of San Beda and Ramon Salvoro of Sacred Heart-Cebu complete the cast.
The team is set to fly to Tehran, Iran for the continental meet set on Aug. 21-28 with other teams from Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Lebanon, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Syria also eager to book one of the slots available to the FIBA Under-19 World Cup.
On distaff side, Yumul will be joined by U16 teammates Camille Nolasco and BJ Villarin in the U18 girls team which is also set to compete in the Division B of the continental meet in Bangalore, India on Sept. 5 to 11.
Newcomers Kalynee Abraham, Sumaya Sugapo, Ashley Loon, Louba Ozar, Hope Manglal-lan, Sydney Heyn, Ryhanna Calvert, Candice Udal, and Kate Bobadilla complete the team which will be under the tutelage of longtime women’s national team coach Patrick Aquino.
Just like in the U16 tournament, only the top team at the end of the tournament will get the promotion to the Division A.