Assembled from near and far, Gilas youth are eager to represent

DOHA (Qatar) - Does anyone remember the D2: The Mighty Ducks Movie? The one where Gordon Bombay gets to coach Team USA and has to manage a mix of local talents and skilled players from all over to go up against other strong national teams in the world?

It’s a movie about hockey, but the plot could also be adapted to the potential storyline of this Philippines U16 national team as well.

Reaching out

The players of this Philippines youth national team include those who come from the traditional high school powerhouse in Manila like Lebron Nieto from Ateneo and Mikhail Romero from De La Salle. You also have some players like Jared Bahay who hails from Cebu, a distance further away from the country’s capital.

Jared Bahay

But as you dig deeper into the roster, you’ll see that the net that was cast to gather these talents spread far and wide.

There’s Jayden Jones.

Jayden Jones

"I am from Las Vegas, Nevada. I am 16 years old and both of my parents are Filipino with my dad being from Manila," said Jones.

You have Jacob Bayla, who comes from California and grew up watching and idolizing Gilas star, Dwight Ramos, who played not far from where he lived in the US.

Jacob Bayla

The search crossed the borders of the US a bit, where they found Zain Mahmood.

"I live in Mississauga, Ontario Canada and I’m 16 years old. My mom is Filipino and is from Concepcion Tarlac," explained Mahmood, the big man who plays AAU basketball and with the EYBL team, CIA Bounce.

Zain Mahmood

Then you have Alex Konov who has as colorful of a background as anyone in the team.

"I live in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey," said Konov. "I’ve been playing basketball since I was 9. My dad is from Bulgaria and inspired me to start playing basketball."

Alex Konov

The cream of the crop is Caelum Harris, arguably the most highly anticipated prospect on the team.

"I’m from Nashville Tennessee and my roots from the Philippine are in Marigondon, Cebu."

Caelum Harris

From east to west, north to south, across several countries, this team was assembled and are ready to take on the best young teams in Asia.

Common ground

Coming from different places across the world and growing up with different backgrounds means that there was adjustments to be made. But in a way, it was because of those differences and searching for the similarities, that have allowed this team to bond in such a quick time span.

"It’s great to play with people who come from different cultures and different backgrounds, being able to get to know them and learn from where they come from and how they were brought up," said Harris. "It makes me feel more at home knowing how they were brought up."

"My teammates, I love them. We built a really close bond," said Bayla, as per Tiebreaker Times, of the training camp and team-building sessions prior to the competition.

"I feel like our chemistry is better, especially the karaoke sessions with the team, it just helped us bond. Just talking them - I understand a little bit of Tagalog - they make jokes and I start laughing. Our chemistry is really good."

Obviously, the first thing that brings all of these players together is their love for the game. Everyone has their own version of an origin story.

"I started playing basketball when I was 11 years old and ever since then I developed a love for the game that kept me playing and grinding every day I could," said Mahmood. "The game has done so much for me and it has brought me to many amazing places including this national team."

For Harris, "I have always been around basketball, but I started playing basketball when my Filipino friend asked me to play for a local recreational league team."

You can see the love for the game in the way they play just like how Bayla celebrates made baskets, namely the first two points of the competition for himself and for this Philippines national team.

Because more than just the love for the game, what brings these young men together is the enthusiasm to present the Philippines.

Gilas Pride and Brotherhood

Every Filipino basketball player will tell you how much it means or how much it would mean for them to be able to play for the national team, for Gilas.

Jones started playing basketball three years ago, and he has been so deeply in love with the game and excited to play for the Philippines that he also plays on various Filipino-American teams to "get a feel of what it feels like to play with other Filipinos".

Mahmood is a young man with many ambitions from getting NCAA Division 1 overs to continue developing and playing at the highest level one can play, but "above all however I want to win games with my team and make the country of the Philippines, my country, proud."

The high level of pride and desire to represent the flag is the product of a national team program that has produced players that these younger players can not only look up to, but reach out for advice as well.

"People like Kai Sotto and Thirdy Ravena, inspire me a lot," said Harris. "I remember, when Kai first came to the US, I remember running to my dad and telling him about a 7-foot basketball player from the Philippines and that he could be the next big sensation."

"I have encountered a few of them, Kai has re-posted some of my posts, and Thirdy has given me some advice on how to get better."

"Guys like Gabe Norwood and Moala Tautua’a has shown me love on social media and it inspires me knowing that two veterans believe in me and believe I can get to the next level and support the Philippines as one of the main pillars on the team," Harris added.

"It motivates me to want to do more and get better to show the Philippines that the next generation is coming and it’s coming for the top."

"They gave me the advice of being a bridge, being a guy who brings the team together. They have been trying to teach me leadership skills and also personal skills to get better as a basketball player."

"They have done everything in their power and they are here for me as my big brothers and every time I ask for questions, they don’t hesitate to share their knowledge with me."

With the sense of support, being a part of a brotherhood, and just representing something bigger than themselves, it’s not a surprise to see these players give it their all when they take the court.

"It is great to be part of the Philippines national team, being one of the main core guys on the team, and to hopefully win the gold," Harris expressed.

FIBA