Cebuanos in the Batang Gilas team: second from left, JB Bahio, assistant coach Joph Cleopas, Joshua Sinclair, Joshua Flores and team manager Andrew Teh. (CONTRIBUTED)
The Cebuano aces in the Batang Gilas Pilipinas squad are beside themselves with excitement at the chance to compete against the region’s best in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Under-18 Championship which starts tomorrow in Medan, Indonesia.
Proudly representing Cebu in the national youth team are former Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu standout Joshua Sinclair, former University of the Visayas main man Joshua Flores and ex-University of Southern Philippines Foundation Baby Panther JB Bahio. Both Flores and Sinclair are now with National University while Bahio was recruited to join the San Beda Red Lions.
Cebu Daily News was able to speak with both Flores and Sinclair right before their flight to Indonesia, yesterday. Flores admitted feeling nervous and excited at the same time but said that he will deal with it as best he can to help the team bring home the gold.
“I feel excited and nervous at the same time especially since we don’t know yet what our opponents look like. This is also my first time to represent the country in an international competition,” shared Flores, the 6-foot-3 forward who helped lead the UV Baby Lancers to the Cesafi finals two years ago.
“The nerves will always be there but I have to face them and give my best no matter what. Coach got us because he saw something in us so we have to make sure that we’ll perform well there,” he added.
Sinclair, on the other hand, sounded hyped at being able to represent the country.
“We’re as ready as we’ll ever be,” quipped the Filipino-Australian. “I’m just excited. I’m ready to do my best for the country.”
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