Members of the Gilas Pilipinas Youth coaching staff were impressed with the players’ enthusiasm as the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers start on Saturday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Gilas Youth assistant coach Richard del Rosario said the boys are hungry to prove themselves as they shoot for the title in this six-nation tournament that includes Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Southeast Asian tilt is a qualifier for the FIBA U16 Asia Cup from 31 August until 7 September in Mongolia.

“The raw desire and energy of these kids every day is infectious. They are really hungry to prove themselves, and they want to create their own path in the sport of basketball,” Del Rosario said.

“The willingness to learn is there. Sometimes, of course, their youthful exuberance takes over and you need to control it a bit.”

Del Rosario, who is also the team manager for Gilas Pilipinas, admitted the coaching staff, led by Barangay Ginebra guard LA Tenorio and Rain or Shine forward Gabe Norwood, had to simplify their teaching methods to put the rest of the squad on the same page.

“We’re always in teaching mode. Things that may seem easy at the college or professional level are not automatic to them yet, so you have to start from level one and try to teach them,” Del Rosario said.

“We have to accept that they are being taught different things by their coaches. We’re not saying that what we’re doing is necessarily better than what they do with their own teams but we want them to learn basketball as we need it to build this team.”

For Norwood, he was amazed by the squad’s talent depth for the tournament.

“It’s pretty cool to see the growth of the game and see the talent that we have across the board. We started with a hundred players and narrowed it down to 18 now,” Norwood said. “The amount of work they put in, balancing school, balancing their own club and school teams that they play for, it’s a pleasure to be able to work with them.”

Led by University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 junior high school Finals Most Valuable Player Gab delos Reyes of University of the East together with Andwele Cabañero of University of Santo Tomas and Clark Khobuntin of National University-Nazareth School, Gilas Youth is tipped to have a sizzling start as it faces Vietnam in the opener on Saturday.