BASKETBALL is riding on a wave of success following the recent triumphs of our women’s and girls’ teams, and the boys’ too.

The Gilas women’s team set the tone as it placed sixth in the recent FIBA Asia Women’s Cup, even had a chance to make it to the semis if not for that heart breaking loss to higher-ranked New Zealand.

Still, that was the best finish of our women’s team and one of its rewards is the opportunity to play in the Asian Games in China later this year, first time too that we have been invited to send a team to this event.

Let us see how the team fares out in the Jones Cup in Taipei next month, a good tune up series for them.

But I heard Duke point guard Vanessa de Jesus might not be able to make when the team plays in the Asiad, but there will be some new ones if ever she and a couple of other Fil-Am fail to make it.

Then our U16 girls team went to Jordan and ruled the Group B competition, tge reward, it plays in the Group A competition two years from now.

But of course, by that time, there will be a brabd new team already as the present team will be over aged already but some will be ready already for the senior team.

According to Coach Ai Lebornio, the coaching staff will now focus on the Asian Games but will start preparing a program for the U 16 replacements, adding head coach Pat Aquino already has identified some new talents.

The U 16 boys team had the easiest time as it only played against 3 teams in the SEABA, sweeping all games against Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.The team was led by Kieffer Alas and gunner Airus Chua.

Actually we would have been surprised if they failed in their quest, that team will certainly produce future superstars in basketball.

Now it is our men’s senior team’s turn at the bat, and they will have an uphill fight in the 2023 FIBA World Cup which we are co hosting with Jaoan and Indonesia.

We are playing in Group A against Dominican Republic, Italy, and Angola , but if Utah Jazz player Jordan Clarkson makes it, we have a fighting chance, more so that Kai Sotto will be there with June Mar Fajardo will be manning the middle for the team.

But the excitement of course will revolve around the presence of NBA players from the United States, Greece, and Canada among others, never mind that the Americabs will not have their superstars in the team.

This will be a boost for Philippine basketball, I just hope and pray our boys will do well.

LOOSE CHANGE: Pat Aquino and Ai Lebornio will be our guests Monday afternoon when I co host O.K.S Radio on DWBL. I do this every last Monday of the month, a week earlier though for this month….. I will watch the semis of the PVL Invitational featuring Japanese and Vietnamese teams against Creamline, F2, Cignal, and PLDT, will see their level of play against ours…..By the way, I was not able to go to Cagayan de Oro for the National Schools Press Conference, but together with other media people,I was still able to judge in the sportswriting category, took us a whole day at the DepEd office in Philsports. By Lito Cinco

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