Philippine Sports News and Updates

TO the shoulders of Franz Pumaren now lies the task of reclaiming the lost glory in Philippine youth basketball.

Yesterday, the multi-titled collegiate coach left for Tehran, Iran, along with his dirty dozen that will face stiff competition in the Fiba Asian Youth Championship slated Aug. 28 to Sept. 5.

It has been nearly three decades since the Philippines last won an Asian youth title with American coach Ron Jacobs then calling the shots for the National. Pumaren was a member of that squad that also has several young talented players like Hector Calma and the late Alfie Almario.

Time has changed so fast.

Our neighboring countries like China, Korea, Japan and Chinese-Taipei have improved by leaps and bounds. Even the countries from the Middle East like host Iran and Lebanon where basketball is not even the favorite sports past time have emerged to become a force to reckon with.

But Pumaren will use his squad’s title conquest in the Southeast Asia Basketball Youth tournament as stepping stone towards the right direction and that moment begins Thursday.

But how familiar Pumaren is on the Philippines’ rivals in this tournament?

“I’m not yet familiar with some of our opponents here,” Pumaren told Standard Today. “Even the countries that participated in the Manila Youth Invitational, they are hiding some members of their squads to keep us guessing. This will be a tough tournament, no doubt about it, but we will be ready.”

Leading the Nationals are Fil-foreign players Norbert Torres and Matthew Wright, skipper Frank Golia, UAAP junior Most Valuable Player Samuel Joseph Marata, Ryan Garcia and Gabriel Banal.

The Nokia Pilipinas Youth team opened its Group C campaign on Aug. 29 against Lebanon before testing the mettle of United Arab Emirates the following day.

The Nationals need not only to familiarize themselves against their opponents. They also need to get themselves adjusted to the time zone her. They will practice from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.