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Nallas' 26 points and Rodeo's 30 rebounds lifts Philippines U21 past Iran U21, 77-61 (82534)

Tehran, Iran -- Despite the king-sized crowd supporting their fellow Iranians, Philippines U21 maintained their poise, especially in the second half, as they surged past Iran U21 convincingly, 77-61.

Matt Nallas was in the forefront of Philippines U21's attack, finishing with 26 points, while Shane Mempin scored 14 points. It wasn't a good night of scoring for the Filipinos, but their defense made up for it and limited Iran U21 to only 61 points, their lowest scoring output in the tournament, so far.

Benson Rodeo outmuscled everyone on the Iran U21 side, and ended up breaking a long-time record with a whopping 30-rebound performance. The previous single-game, individual record by a Philippines U21 player was at 25 rebounds, with 3 players sharing this honor, and the last one was on Season 57 with Terrance McHenry. Rodeo also added 5 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocks, completing an impressive stat line.

For Iran U21, Parsa Hoveida led the team in scoring with 24 points. He also added 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Siavash Shahmiri added 14 points, while Kaveh Kasravi had a double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds, on top of his impressive 7 blocks.

Philippines U21 (3-1) remains at #2 behind Hong Kong U21 (4-0) in Pool E, while Australia U21 and Iran U21, who are tied at 2-2, will lock horns next week in an all-important match. In Pool D, Singapore U21 surprisingly beats Indonesia U21, while China U21 and Taiwan U21 won their respective games, retaining their #1 and #2 spots.

U.A.E. U21 will be Philippines U21's last opponent in the second round. Game will be on the 12th of January, 10:30 pm (Manila time). The Semifinals will start on the 16th, while the Finals and World Cup Barrage games is scheduled on the 19th. Busy schedule for U21 in the next few days, so please continue to support our National teams!

Points Leaders:
Matt Nallas - 26 points
Shane Mempin - 14 points
Feliciano Gaitano - 8 points
Abelardo Baluyot - 8 points
Alejandro Jemino - 8 points

Rebounds Leaders:
Benson Rodeo - 30 rebounds
Feliciano Gaitano - 13 rebounds
Jack Pailden - 8 rebounds

Assists Leaders:
Abelardo Baluyot - 5 assists
Benson Rodeo - 5 assists
Hansen Veloria - 2 assists

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

- Leo

Philippines U21 crushes U.A.E. U21, sets up Semis showdown vs. China U21 (82537)

Tehran, Iran -- Alejandro Jemino scored 19 points and added 3 assists and 3 steals as Philippines U21 led by as many as 35 points en route to a victory over U.A.E. U21, 94-61.

Six players scored in double figures for Philippines U21. Hansen Veloria and Bill Guerrero chipped in 14 points each. Guerrero also collected 10 rebounds, which marks his fifth double-double performance in this tournament. Brian William Sumande and Dondon Gabuya had 13 points each off the bench. Sumande also added 7 assists.

First-time starter Samson Austria almost had a double-double as he finished the game with 10 points and 9 rebounds, while Feliciano Gaitano grabbed 16 boards, followed by Jack Pailden's 11.

Temiz Husayn and Hana Mousa Ibn-Akram led U.A.E. U21 in scoring, contributing 14 points each, while Umar Naqid had 10 points and 7 rebounds.

With this win, the Filipinos secured at least a bronze trophy. They also get a chance to claim the gold or silver trophy with a Semifinals win against Pool D's top seed, China U21. The Filipinos are also given two chances to book a World Cup seat: by winning in the semifinal, or in case of a semifinal loss, they need to win in the World Cup Qualifiers (Barrage).

The other semifinal matchup will be Hong Kong U21, Pool E's top seed, versus Taiwan U21. The two semifinal games are tentatively scheduled on Friday, 16th of January, possibly at 10:30PM (Manila time). Please continue to support our National teams!

Points Leaders:
Alejandro Jemino - 19 points
Hansen Veloria - 14 points
Bill Guerrero - 14 points

Rebounds Leaders:
Feliciano Gaitano - 16 rebounds
Jack Pailden - 11 rebounds
Bill Guerrero - 10 rebounds

Assists Leaders:
Brian William Sumande - 7 assists
Abelardo Baluyot - 6 assists
Dondon Gabuya - 4 assists

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

- Leo

China U21 breaks open tight game in 2nd half, surges past Philippines U21, 89-63 (82820)

Tehran, Iran -- What started as a close match between China U21 and Philippines U21 turned into a nightmare for the latter in the second half, and they eventually succumbed to last season's runner-up, China U21, 89-63.

Philippines U21 kept it close, not giving China U21 lots of breathing room as they only led by as much as 7 points in the first half. The Filipinos started a mini-rally to start the third quarter to seize the lead midway through the third, 43-41, but things went south for them afterwards.

China U21 countered with a big rally to give themselves a 15-point lead at the end of the third quarter, 63-48. The lead ballooned further in the fourth quarter, not giving Philippines U21 a chance to mount a comeback. In the end, China U21 claimed the victory, a chance to claim the gold or silver trophy, and most importantly, the ticket to the World Cup.

As for Philippines U21, they get a bronze trophy and another chance to make the World Cup via World Cup Qualifiers or Barrage, which will be held on Monday or Tuesday, January 19th or 20th. It will be against a Euro team or an Americas team, randomly selected. The result of the draw will be announced as early as tomorrow, 18th of January, at noon.

"The owners (of U21 players) did everything they could, you know, training and managing their forms. I thought I had a great game plan, but it wasn't enough. Kinda frustrating on my part." Coach Leo mentioned in the post-game interview. "We have to claim that World Cup ticket the hard way, once again."

Shen Baofeng went nuclear, especially from beyond the arc, scoring 27 points to lead China U21 in scoring. He made 7 of 10 attempts from rainbow country. Duan Pingming had 19 points, while Dian Qijian added 13 points. Lu Zhikun played off the bench, but his defense was instrumental in keeping Philippines U21 at bay. He swatted 8 shots and grabbed 12 boards in just 19 minutes of action.

The bigmen duo of Bill Guerrero and Feliciano Gaitano carried the load for Philippines U21, as both players got impressive double-doubles, with both players getting more than 20 points and more than 15 rebounds each. The support was scarce though as Abelardo Baluyot and Unciano Taghoy only chipped in 6 points each. The rest of the players didn't score that much.

As mentioned, Philippines U21 still has an upcoming game for a chance to make the World Cup, which will be scheduled on 19th or 20th of January. Please continue to support our National teams!

Points Leaders:
Bill Guerrero - 23 points
Feliciano Gaitano - 20 points
Abelardo Baluyot - 6 points
Unciano Taghoy - 6 points

Rebounds Leaders:
Bill Guerrero - 17 rebounds
Feliciano Gaitano - 15 rebounds
Unciano Taghoy - 7 rebounds

Assists Leaders:
Abelardo Baluyot - 5 assists
Dondon Gabuya - 4 assists
Unciano Taghoy - 3 assists

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

- Leo

Alright, the World Cup Qualifier schedules are out:

January 19, 7:00 PM (Manila time) - Philippines U21 vs Belgium U21

This is our last chance to make the World Cup next season. A loss means we go to the Consolation Tournament.

Regarding the upcoming draft, the draftees will arrive as early as this Monday, a few hours after our WCQ game. Hoping that we get decent young studs to further bolster our National Teams.

18- and 19-year old rookies will be scouted first starting on Tuesday. Looking forward to communicating with you guys regarding your training plans. If you have no intentions to train, kindly sell your rookie/s as early as possible.

Good luck everyone at maraming salamat sa inyong suporta!

- Leo

Ok, let's get this straight, no articles this time. Sa kasamaang palad, bigo tayo laban sa Belgium U21, kaya Consolation Tournament tayo mapupunta kung saan no bearing ang mga games next season. We'll just be playing for pride there, and reach the furthest stage.

Oo, nakuha natin ang bronze trophy, pero hindi ito ang resulta na gusto natin, gusto natin World Cup. Kung meron man akong nakikitang rason kung bakit tayo natalo, ito ay ang tactics na ginamit ko sa larong ito. Dahil dyan, humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa mga managers na nagtiwala sa akin, at nagtrain ng kanilang players, at pati na rin sa ating Filipino community. More improvements to come on my side, tactics-wise, at hopefully, mas maging consistent na tayo sa WC in the future.

Now for the schedule. Bukas ko na sisimulan ang pagscout. Nabanggit ko na uunahin natin iscout ang mga 18- at 19-year old rookies, allstar and above potential. Expect a mail galing sa akin kung nakikitaan ko sila ng potensyal na mapabilang sa future U21 and/or squad/s natin. Target na matapos ito ng Miyerkules. Sunod naman ang mga non-rookies na sana ay matapos lahat bago ang scrimmage natin sa Lunes, next week

Ulitin natin, kung wala tayong planong magtrain ng rookies, mas mainam na ibenta natin ito this week. Huwag na patagalin pa. Mas matagal, mas bumababa ang value ng player. Sayang din ang mga linggong hindi sila natetrain. May mga managers tayong naghahanap ng rookies na itetrain; kasama na ako doon.

What's next? Ito ang goals ko para sa susunod na season:
1. Nabanggit ko na sa taas, makarating ang U21 team sa pinakamalayong mararating nito.

2. Plan ko magfocus sa mga incoming 19- at 20-year olds. Paghahanda ito sa susunod na cycle.

3. Iniisip kong maglagay na ng minimum skill requirements o guidelines para sa U21. Napapanahon na siguro ito para alam ng mga managers kung ano ang skillset ng player/s na kadalasang nakakapasok sa ating U21 team. We need more well-rounded players; players na may palag sa opensa (in terms of scoring or passing) at pati depensa. I still see a few players na scorer lang, mababa ang def, and vice versa.

Ayun, maraming salamat sa suporta. See you next season at good luck sa inyong league games. This Saturday po ang start ng bagong season, reminder sa lahat!

- Leo

Update lang ito sa scouting at sa mga pangyayari sa offseason:

1) Tingin ko namail ko na karamihan ng mga managers ng mga rookies na may allstar potential pataas at may chance na mapabilang sa ating U21/ Seniors team. Maraming salamat sa mga nagreply at nagpakita ng interes sa pagtetrain.

2) At sa mga hindi ko namail at tingin nyo may rookie/s kayo na maaaring makatulong sa ating National teams, message nyo ako dito sa BB kung interesado kayong magtrain.

3) Sunod na natin iscout ang mga non-rookies, simula sa mga 19 year olds, at pataas. Hopefully matapos natin ito bago ang scrimmage sa Lunes.

4) Speaking of scrimmage, makakalaban natin ang Greece U21 sa Lunes, 26th January, madaling araw, 12:30am. Unang sabak ito ng mga 21 y/o na U21 prospects natin.

Ayun lang muna, medyo busy tayo hanggang weekends, kaya pasensya na sa iba kung may delay/s sa replies.

Simula na sa Sabado ang new season, kaya good luck sa inyong league games.

Best regards,
Leo

Are you using too much gimmicky offenses?

Tingnan mo China or HK. Puro Motion, Rng, Look inside. Proven na. Pansin ko sayo, pag big games, kakaibang tactics palagi. Wala naman mang hula ng opensa sa big games. May napanood ako na video na sinasabi na hindi equal ang mga opensa. May mga mas magaganda talaga kumpara sa iba.

Tapos yung best big man na 20yo pa lang U21 player na eh di mo ginamit. Sayang kasi. More than 1 year pag train ng player. Tapos di magamit. Iniisip ko kelan ako magka U21 ulit at mukhang matagalan pa. I assume you'll be playing 20yos this season. Kawawa din naman owners nung 21yo na hindi makalaro na matagal din na train.

Edit: Not just opensa pala. Pati depensa. Tiningnan ko history at puro box and one defense pag big games. Unconventional offense. Patient, Princeton, etc. Tapos puro talo. Ganun ba siya ka effective? Sayang kasi HK has 100 less users than us pero ang lakas nila kahit last season sa worlds.

Last edited by JSmoove at 1/25/2026 8:28:36 PM

Yes, I admit gumagamit ako minsan ng mga kakaibang offense/defense to throw other teams off at iwas sa possible GDP. But after your observations, I would agree that most of the time di siya effective sa U21. The Belgium and China games were the evidences of that. Wrong choice of tactics vs Belgium dahil sa possible GDP, pero sabi mo nga, walang nanghuhula sa big games. Sa China game, reluctance to use 3-2 or man to man due to matchups. Tama ka boss, tingin ko yun yung kailangan ko baguhin in terms of choosing tactics. Maraming salamat sa iyong observation.

The current pool is full of 21 y/o players, and I don't think a 20 y/o will break the roster base sa aking scouting, pero may mga instances na may 20 y/olds tayo na deserve makapasok sa U21 kahit 20 y/o lang sila. Take Season 69 as example, the World Cup season. Our 21 y/o bigs lack inside scorers, but we have 2 20 y/o who are slightly better than our 21 y/olds: sila Feliciano Gaitano at Bill Guerrero, credits to their owners for training them. They got good minutes that season.

Last season, we had a 20 y/o big guy added to the team. We lack these type of players that season and skills-wise, he really deserves the spot. Alam kong magagamit ko siya sa ibang laro, pero may mga instances na di sila magagamit, lalo na sa inside attack. Pero kung outside o balanced attack, I'd love to have someone like him to anchor our defense behind 3-2 zone. Sa ngayon, ang trend sa mga top teams sa BB ay ang paggamit ng 3-2 zone na may kasamang shotblocking big/s. Napapatumba nito kahit ang inside offenses ng kalaban. Hong Kong U21 is doing this currently (lagi silang naka 3-2 zone kung mapapansin nyo), hence the preference to add 2 or 3 players of this kind, and probably in the future iterations of our U21 team. Gladly we have managers who are willing to train such players. Thank you very much!

TLDR rgdg 20-year-olds, if a player deserves a spot, skills-wise, and they fit the roster needs, he'll get the spot regardless of age. Para sa mga nagtetrain, I might not say it everytime, but I really appreciate everyone's efforts in training, pero isipin natin na laging may competition para sa mga spots. Meron at meron talagang player/s na mas magaling kaysa sa player/s na tinetrain natin. Kaya kung gusto natin talaga magkaroon ng player na makakapasok sa U21, let's help each other and look for ways to improve further. I'm always here to help, imail nyo lang ako o ang mga veterans.

Again, I appreciate your comments boss JSmoove, and also for training our best PG last season, si Abelardo Baluyot, who broke assists records sa ating U21 team.

And if anyone has suggestions, please post them here. I'd appreciate it.

BR,
Leo

Macau U21 63 Philippines U21 127 (83315)

Strong showing para sa mga bata natin, na pinangunahan ni Claro Cui na may 31 points, 11 rebounds at 4 assists. Samantalang sila Sam Jones, Sol Ybañez at Romeo Puno ay umiskor ng mahigit 20 puntos bawat isa.

Points: C. Cui 31, S. Jones 28, S. Ybañez 26
Rebounds: J. Pailden 17, C. Cui 11, S. Robel 9
Assists: J. Pailden 6, R. Puno 5, C. Cui 4, S. Ybañez 4, B. Gravoso 4

France U21 naman ang makakalaban natin sa susunod na linggo, February 10th, 2:30 AM (Manila time). Malaking test ito para sa ating U21 team kaya ipagpatuloy natin ang pagsuporta sa ating National Teams.

Marami pa tayong slots sa ating U21 team, kaya ipagpatuloy natin ang training, at alagaan ang game shape.

- Leo

Philippines U21 65 France U21 102 (83380)

Nabanggit natin last week na isa itong malaking pagsubok sa ating koponan ang larong ito kontra sa France U21, at yun nga ang nangyari. Nakipagsabayan tayo sa first half ngunit pagdating ng second half, naramdaman na ng ating koponan ang homecourt disadvantage at ang lakas ng kanilang mga bigmen, at sa huli hindi na tayo nakabawi.

Pinangunahan muli ni Claro Cui ang scoring para sa Pilipinas at nakapagtala siya ng 13 points, na may kasamang 10 rebounds. Ito ang pangalawang double-double ni Cui sa torneong ito. Sinundan ito nila Sondo Savella na may 13 points, at Liberato Banzon na may 11 points.

Si Jack Pailden naman ang naging sandigan ng Pilipinas pagdating sa depensa. Nakapagtala siya ng 14 rebounds, 3 steals at 6 blocks. Samantala, si Sam Jones naman ang pangunahing taga-timon para sa ating koponan. Sa kanyang unang start, nakapagtala siya ng 10 points at 7 assists.

Points: C. Cui 13, S. Savella 13, L. Banzon 11
Rebounds: J. Pailden 14, C. Cui 10, L. Banzon 9
Assists: S. Jones 7, C. Cui 3, S. Savella 2, J. Pailden 2, G. Negradas 2

Sa susunod na Lunes, February 16th, 6:30 PM (Manila time), Brasil U21 naman ang makakaharap natin at gaganapin ito sa ating homecourt. Masasabi kong evenly-matched ang mga koponan na magtutunggali kaya interesante ang laban na ito. Muli, ipagpatuloy natin ang pagsuporta sa ating National Teams.

- Leo

Brasil U21 73 Philippines U21 101 (83422)

Maganda ang pinamalas ng ating koponan kontra sa Brasil U21 sa harap ng ating mga kababayan. Sa 2nd half, bumulusok ang Pilipinas U21 upang makuha ang kanilang ikalawang panalo sa torneo, 101-73.

Si Romeo Puno naman ang nanguna sa scoring para sa Pilipinas U21 sa larong ito. Nakapagtala agad siya ng 21 points sa 1st half, at tinapos ang laro na may 29 points at may dagdag na 3 steals. Sinundan ito nila Sam Jones na may 14 points, at si Allan Camilo Tiopes na may 12 points.

Maganda ang pinakita ng ating mga bataan, mapa-opensa o mapa-depensa. Lamang din tayo sa rebounds, assists at steals, salamat sa kontribusyon ng ating starting bigs: Jack Pailden at Geoffrey Negradas.

Points: R. Puno 29, S. Jones 14, A. C. Tiopes 12

Rebounds: J. Pailden 15, L. Banzon 11, G. Negradas 10

Assists: C. Cui 6, S. Jones 5, J. Pailden 4

Sa ika-24 ng Pebrero, 8:30 AM (oras sa Pilipinas), bibisitahin naman natin ang Panama U21 sa kanilang homecourt. Muli, ipagpatuloy natin ang pagsuporta sa ating National Teams.

- Leo