The players who took part in the FIBA U16 Asia Championship 2009 comprise a special group. Many of the names who graced the hardwood that year are, by now, among the mainstays of several men's national teams across the continent. There's Zhai Xiaochuan and Ding Yanyuhang of China, Iran's Sajjad Mashayekhi and Amir Sedighi, Korean center Lee JongHyun, Ray Chen of Chinese Taipei, Ahmad Al Dwairi of Jordan, Alex Zhigulin of Kazakhstan, Delvin Goh of Singapore, and Kevin Ferrer of the Philippines. There are some marquee names on that list, but perhaps the most promising talent to come out of that class is none other than Chinese point guard Guo Ailun.
SINGAPORE (SEABA Championship 2017) - Singapore have progressed rapidly in the past few years, rising through the ranks to become a legitimate threat to the dominance of the Philippines in Southeast Asia. One of the reasons for their rise has been a steady influx of young, talented and confident players, who have been gaining a lot of invaluable experience playing for the top regional club league in their sub-zone, the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). A prime example of an exceptional up-and-comer is none other than Hanbin Ng. The 1.94m forward has been at the forefront of Singapore's new generation of trailblazing hoopsters bent on elevating the status of the game in their country and ensuring that the national team continues to be highly competitive.
JAKARTA (SEABA Championship 2017) - The Philippines have lost a SEABA Championship Final only once ever, and it was against Indonesia way back in 1996, 88-81. Indonesian-American Mario Wuysang was just 17 years old back then and wasn't even part of any Indonesian team or league, but, for sure, he would like to bring those glory days back and restore Indonesia to greatness in ASEAN basketball. He and the rest of the Timnas Basket Indonesia will have their shot this coming May when they travel to Manila for the SEABA Championship 2017, where only the winner will book a ticket to the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 in Beirut, Lebanon.
MANILA (SEABA U16 Championship 2017) - The Philippines U16 team known as Batang Gilas are aiming for no less than the title in the SEABA U16 Championship 2017 that will be held in Manila from 12-18 May, and returning head coach Michael Oliver is pulling out all the stops to make sure the team achieve their goal of qualifying for the FIBA U16 Asia Championship later this year. The youth team's practices have been amped up of late, especially thanks to the arrival of key players Rence Padrigao and 2.10m Kai Sotto. Padrigao and Sotto are two talents whom many people see as the team's best options at point guard and center respectively. Coach Oliver is also hoping Padrigao and Sotto can be the team's leaders for the SEABA U16 Championship.
