RP U16 squad hones skills in Australia

MANILA, Philippines - Coach Eric Altamirano is hoping that his Nokia Pilipinas U16 team will get the necessary experience that will develop their skills to in playing in different environments during its Australian sojourn. The team left with Altamirano on Monday for a camp in Canberra, Australia. The team will also play in a pocket tournament while in Australia as part of its preparations for the Fiba-Asia U16 tournament scheduled in Malaysia this year. The same team will also campaign in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) youth tilt set this July before the Fiba-Asia youth competition in November. “More than the skills training, our team needs to be ranged against different kinds of playing environments, particularly those closely resembling or even far better than the competition we are to face in Malaysia," said Altamirano, in a statement on Monday. Altamirano's team will undergo skills development at the Elite Training Camp and while there will participate in a mini tournament which will have NSW Country, NSW Metropolitan and ACT U16 State squads as competitors. Members of the team set to compete in the South East Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) under-16 meet this July are Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal, Roldan Sara, Ralph Nayve, Jeron Jeng, Kristoffer De La Costa, Jeffrey Jarillonar, Cris Michael Tolomia, Paolo Luis Romero, John Aldrin Lunas, Kevin Ferrer, Joshua Torralba, Michael Anthony Pate. Bobby Ray Parks can't play in the squad because he is still in the United States. With the team flying to Australia are Joey Guanio, Vic Ycasiano and Mon Jose, conditioning coach Dan Rose, head of operations Ito Lopa from TAO Corporation and physical therapist Gimbo Corre. –GMANews.TV