Michael Oliver returns to helm Batang Gilas
MANILA (SEABA U16 Championship 2017) - Michael Oliver recently returned to his position as head coach of the Batang Gilas U16 team, regaining the post that only a couple of monthsb ago was practically
MANILA (SEABA U16 Championship 2017) - Michael Oliver recently returned to his position as head coach of the Philippines U16 team known as Batang Gilas, regaining the post that only a couple of months ago was practically handed to decorated bench tactician Goldwin Monteverde.
Monteverde recently got embroiled in a player eligibility controversy in one of the premier high school basketball tournaments in the country, and this coincided with his no longer being in the running as Batang Gilas head coach.
SBP reappoints Mike Oliver as head coach of Batang Gilas ahead of Seaba tilt | By @reubensports https://t.co/bw0UAJctdJ
— Gilas Pilipinas Army (@gilasarmy) February 6, 2017
Coach Oliver, meanwhile, returns after steering Batang Gilas to a seventh place finish in the FIBA Asia U18 Championship 2016. He first coached the Philippine youth team in 2015, leading them to a title in the SEABA U16 Championship that year and a fifth place finish in the FIBA Asia U16 Championship as well. The highlight of his international coaching career so far has been Batang Gilas's monumental upset of China in the second round of the FIBA Asia U16 Championship 2015. That was the first time anybody ever beat China's U16 squad at the continental level.
This familiarity of coach Oliver with the demands of international play will be crucial to Batang Gilas this year.
“The selection of head coach Michael Oliver brings some continuity to the program,” said team manager Andrew Teh.
Coach Oliver is expected to assemble the tallest Batang Gilas team ever as most Filipino hoop nuts are hoping to see the triple tower combination of Kai Sotto (2.08m), Ethan Kirkness (2.05m) and Carl Tamayo (2.00m) suit up. Other players who may be considered shoo-ins are spitfire guards Gerry Abadiano and Rence Padrigao, while foreign-based Filipinos Rey Cabiling, Edward Maagdenberg and Taine Davies are also intriguing prospects.
6’10″ teenager Kai Sotto to play for Batang Gilas in SEABA U-16 in Manila, says dad #LabanPilipinas 🇵🇭 https://t.co/LwQCI6eL1N pic.twitter.com/NXBMqnY5dY
— InterAksyon (@interaksyon) January 30, 2017
Naturally, coach Oliver hopes his squad will bag the SEABA U16 crown again, especially since it will be hosted at home.
"Given our time frame for preparation until competition, we hope we can put up the best possible team for the tournament," Oliver said.
The SEABA U16 Championship will be held in May later this year, and it will qualify 2 SEABA teams to the FIBA Asia U16 Championship 2017, which will also include Australia and New Zealand.
FIBA