Batang Gilas U-17 cagers learn valuable lessons in FIBA World Championship

MANILA, Philippines – On August 15, the Philippine U-17 basketball team, better known as Batang Gilas, beat United Arab Emirates, 115-51, to win their lone game in the 2014 FIBA U-17 World Championship and salvage a 15th place finish in the tournament after losing their first six outings.

Though Batang Gilas hoped to finish higher in the competition, they at the least managed to go home with a win, albeit against the weakest squad in the tournament.

Nonetheless, Filipinos have always been proud of their homegrown athletes. It’s why the country’s support for Gilas Pilipinas, the Philippine men’s basketball team, is at its peak right now with the 2014 FIBA World Cup a day away. It’s also why every accomplishment by a Filipino abroad will gain huge traction back in their home country.

And despite the number of losses the U-17 club suffered in the World Championship, there’s no doubt they were embraced with pride and honor by their fellow countrymen upon their return after representing the colors of the Philippines against the rest of the world.

But going deeper than that, members of the team managed to gain knowledge on and off the court that should help their individual games moving forward, and in turn, the future of Philippine basketball. 

Going up against the best the globe has to offer provides experience for some of the country’s young cagers for future international competitions, while the bond they created as a collective unit is something they will surely cherish for a very long time. 

Particularly for three future stars. 

“Sobrang sarap nung experience,” shared Matt Nieto, 17, a high school senior in Ateneo, in a phone conversation with Rappler. “Sobrang laki yung level of competition nang world. Imagine you play with the best of the best, like future NBA stars kaya sobrang sarap nung feeling.”

(The experience was great. The level of competition in the world is really high.)

“Yung bonding namin, grabe talaga, ang saya, parang magkakapatid [na kami].”

(Our bonding was great. It improved to a point that we were all like brothers.)

Nieto was the starting point guard for Batang Gilas, racking up 7.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 2.7 APG in the World Championship. His brother, Mike, is only an inch taller but started at center for the Philippines, which underscores how much of a size advantage the rest of the world had against them.

But despite having to fight against heftier and towering big men day after day, the taller Nieto, 17, also a high school senior at Ateneo, had nothing but positive remarks to say about the tournament.

“Sobrang saya po (I’m really happy) and I feel really blessed to be part of the team to qualify,” according to Mike, who averaged 12.9 PPG and 11.6 RPG for the Ateneo Blue Eaglets in the junior’s basketball tournament of the UAAP’s 76th season in 2013.

“Nasanay ako kalaban yung mga malalaki (I got used to playing against bigger guys),” he added, before mentioning that “Madadala ko sa UAAP (I can bring what I learned with me to the UAAP).” 

Another Blue Eaglet stud who caught the attention of those watching the U-17 World Championship was scoring machine Jolo Mendoza, who averaged 12.6 PPG in the tourney against the tough defense of the opposition, including the United States.

According to the high school junior, the experience was surreal.

“Just representing the country is already a different experience. What made it more special is we went up against the best of the world,” noted Mendoza, 16, who also said that the guys in the roster did their own laundry during their trip to Dubai (where the tournament was held), which helped make them more responsible outside of basketball.

“It helped me in my career and helped me gain confidence,” he added about going up against USA and company.

The Philippines was slotted in Group A along with America, Greece, and Angola, but fell to each counterpart in preliminary action. Nonetheless, each loss was a learning experience, said the three boys. And for Mike Nieto, each defeat gave him an opportunity to improve his leadership skills, which was important considering his role as team captain.

“I also learned how to become a leader. Tinuruan talaga ako ni Coach Jimmy [Alapag] paano maging leader,” Nieto said about the Gilas-Pilipinas starting point guard.

(Coach Jimmy Alapag really taught me how to become a leader.)

“Shinare lang niya saakin yung opinions niya paano maging leader. Ang dami kong natutunan”

(He just shared his opinions on how to become a leader. I learned so much.)

The lessons he learned in Dubai also further strengthened Nieto’s sense of national pride – something that the other two boys mentioned as well. Furthermore, the relationship between the three Ateneo standouts grew so close that Mendoza will play college basketball wherever the Nietos decide to commit to, according to Mike.

“Package deal rin si Jolo,” as Mike put it.

“Mas maganda i-represent yung Philippines. Yun yung the best. Kaya ako nag lalaro nang basketball para sa Philippines,” Matt said about his stint with Batang Gilas.

(There’s no better feeling that to represent the Philippines. It really is the best. That’s why I play basketball – for the Philippines.)

“If I were given a chance to represent the country, I’d do it again,” Mendoza later added, attesting to his teammate’s sentiment. “Not everyone’s given this chance, and it’s always an honor to represent the country.”

The team captain then put the icing on the cake, stating a sentence that should have every Filipino beam with pride:

“Paglalaban ko ulit ang pagiging Filipino.”

(I will fight once again for being a Filipino.)

– Rappler.com