STREAMLINING the Batang Gilas program is in the works.
National basketball program head coach Chot Reyes said this as the Batang Gilas national under-16 men’s team sees action in the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in June in Argentina.
“Gone are the days when we had a different system for Batang Gilas, a different system for the Cadets and the elite team. We really wanted to streamline everything, including the teaching and the coaching so that it would really involve everyone,” said Reyes.
Batang Gilas, led by Kai Sotto, will have to be ready to face taller players when they plunge into action in the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.
And they have two months to get ready.
Reyes said that unlike in the past, there are talented players who can get involved with Batang Gilas.
“It’s the culture. The first time I coached a national team was in 1997. That was a time when every player was looking for an excuse not be involved with the program. That was the time when we could not get players to play for the national team,” added Reyes.
Batang Gilas will play against the opposing teams that will field in players who have more height and heft than the current crop of players in the national under-16 roster.
But this time around, they will have a lot of players who will be available.
“Now we have players who want to play,” added Reyes.
The 31st-ranked Philippines is in Group D, along with 7th-ranked Argentina, 8th-ranked Croatia and 9th-ranked France.
The World Cup will be from June 30 to July 8 in Rosario and Santa Fe, Argentina.
But whatever happens to Batang Gilas in the group stage, they are already seeded in the Round of 16.