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What we can expect from the Batang Gilas U16 team in the Fr. Martin's Cup tournament

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(Photo Credit: FIBA)
The Batang Gilas U16 team is set to play in the SEABA tournament that's going to be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum from May 14-18. To help with their preparation, the team is set to join the 23rd Fr. Martin's Cup that's set to start tomorrow, April 20 at the San Beda Gym. Their schedule as of this writing is as follows: 

April 20 (Thursday)
Venue: San Beda College 
Time: 8am
U16 vs ADMU

April 22 (Saturday)
Venue: Lyceum College
Time: 7am
U16 vs Lyceum

April 24 (Monday)
Venue: San Beda College
Time: 11am
U16 vs DLSU

With a team that features towers Kai Sotto and Geo Chiu and star guard Rence Padrigao, it's easy to have high expectations from a team with a core that's looking very good. But we do have to remember, this is a bunch of High School kids who's set to do battle against an Ateneo team that has a crop of experienced pieces, a Lyceum team that has monster CJ Perez, and a La Salle team that's.. well.. La Salle.

What are a number of the proper things to expect then from this Batang Gilas team from this tournament? Here's some of them: 

Expect them to struggle

Any time a Youth National Team is invited to play in a summer tournament, there's this idea among casual fans that this team will easily dominate. After all, they are a team that has the best of the best in the youth level. It's a group of players who arguably have the most potential to make the biggest impact in Philippine Basketball. Batang Gilas should easily dominate that competition that they will be facing.

The reality of it is, that won't be the case at all. Expect this Batang Gilas team to have a hell of a difficult time against the teams that they will be facing in the Fr. Martin's Cup. This is a great group of 16 year olds, sure. Take note: 16 year olds. No matter how good the players of this team are, they still aren't as mature physically and mentally as their counterparts for this tourney. These kids aren't even legally allowed to drink alcohol just yet, so it's not fair to expect these guys to run over the teams that they will go up against. In fact, the complete opposite will happen. The chances of Batang Gilas getting destroyed is huge. Kai Sotto getting dunked on by Ben Mbala is in play. The guards of the youth team are going to get blocked by the likes of Gian Mamuyac and CJ Perez.

They're going to struggle, sure. But is it a bad thing? For a bunch of kids whose end goal is to win against some of the best 16 year olds internationally, getting decimated by some of the best adults in the country is a fine way to get there. There's beauty in the struggle, and Batang Gilas should very well show that.

Expect them to still be experimenting

Coach Mike Oliver already said so himself, this Batang Gilas team is BIG. For a team that's been so used trotting out small line-ups, this is completely new ground for the program. Coach Mike Oliver is then faced with the dilemma of sticking to Gilas' tried and tested dribble drive system, or use a system that takes advantage of the bigs that he has. It's a good problem to have by any means, and it's a problem that's going to be solved during the Fr. Martin's Cup.

With how things are looking, it's likely Batang Gilas' system will be centered around their duo of Rence Padrigao and Kai Sotto. Here's the thing: Sotto and Padrigao are a great fit with each other.. but not with the dribble drive system which Pinoy basketball has long been known for. Kai is a great mid-range shooter who can operate from the elbow area, while Padrigao is a play making wizard with range. A useful set up between the two is putting Sotto in the elbow area, setting him up courtesy of a simple entry pass by Padrigao, then Rence uses Kai to free himself for a three. But using Padrigao to penetrate to create open looks? With how big Batang Gilas is, that isn't looking like that good of a setup.

But here's the thing: All that I talked about above are all hypotheses at this point. It's all just #MAMARU analysis. And we won't have a final answer as to what system is going to fit this Batang Gilas team right now. The only time we'll find that answer is when Mike Oliver and staff are done experimenting with the pieces that they have. 

Expect to see flashes of the future of Philippine Basketball

They're going to struggle. Batang Gilas is going to get beat up in the process. But what's one "good" thing that we can expect in their impending Fr. Martin's Cup run? We can definitely expect to see flashes of the future of Philippine Basketball.

Kai Sotto spotting up for a three pointer? Padrigao penetrating instead of stepping back for threes? The Batang Gilas team actually playing like a well-oiled unit? All of those situations are in play, thanks to the likely experimentation that Coach Mike Oliver will be going through during the tournament. Don't be surprised to mutter "Holy shit", once any of the Batang Gilas kids does something that will make coaches and fans giddy.

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