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Una sa lahat, salamat ulit sa mga bumoto at nagtiwala. 2 seasons nanaman tayong magsasama-sama. As usual, muli tayong susubok na makakuha ng World Cup slot para sa Season 69.

Sa ngayon, di pa nakaset ang player pool natin. Pagkatapos ng Friday training update, pasadahan muli natin ang pagscout sa mga players na may tsansang makapasok sa pool na ito. Remind ko lang din na 18 lang ang spots sa team. Galingan natin magtrain, galingan natin magmaintain ng game shape atmaging responsive tayo sa mga mails. Di tayo pwedeng basta-basta mag drop ng players dahil mababawasan ang enthusiasm ng ating team, kaya ingat na ingat tayo sa pagpili ng players.

Regarding naman sa mga 18 y/o hanggang 20 y/o, marami na rin tayong nasendan ng mails, ngunit hindi ko ito magagawa sa lahat ng managers. Kaya kung tingin nyo may hawak kayong U21 o NT prospect at di ko kayo namail nung mga nakaraang araw/linggo, feel free to send mail. Pagtulungan nating palakasin ang inyong trainee.

Muli, maraming salamat at good luck sa atin.

Leo

Philippines U21 opens Asia Tourney campaign with a W, nips Japan U21, 103-89 (79231)

Taipei, Taiwan -- Philippines U21 put themselves in the winning column after fending off a pesky Japan U21 team. Leonard Espeño picked up the scoring cudgels for the Filipinos in the first half, scoring 16 points in 1st half. But, he got injured just a minute into the 3rd quarter as Eriya Satoh's wayward elbow smacked Espeño in the face. As a result, Satoh was assessed a flagrant foul. On the other hand, Espeño was unable to return in the remaining minutes of the 2nd half.

It didn't matter though as the 9-man Filipino squad kept their opponents at bay until the final buzzer, despite relentless attempts by the Japanese to take over the game. Clyde Dexter Widagdo was in the forefront of Philippines U21's 2nd half assault, finishing the game with 20 points and 8 assists.

Despite having 4 fouls in the 1st half, Seymour Stanley kept his composure in the latter half, showing off his offensive and defensive skills, without fouling out. He collected 18 points, 17 rebounds (5 offensive), 3 steals and 4 blocks.

Rojun Abono also stepped up in Espeño's absence. He added 17 points and 9 assists, while Joseph Steven Tabernero had 10 points and 2 assists off the bench. Jeff Castro grabbed 12 rebounds and swatted 2 shots.

The resilient Japan U21 team were led by Tomoharu Daita, who contributed 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Eriya Satoh had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, while Hiroshi Kaneko and Masaaki Kitahara scored 12 points each.

Next on Philippines U21 calendar will be a crucial tiff for the top spot in Pool B against the powerhouse China U21 team. The game wil be held on the 28th of April, 6:00 PM (Manila time). Please continue to support our National Teams!

Points Leaders:
Clyde Dexter Widagdo - 20 points
Seymour Stanley - 18 points
Rojun Abono - 17 points

Rebounds Leaders:
Seymour Stanley - 14 rebounds
Jeff Castro - 12 rebounds
Banjo Maximo Vargas - 6 rebounds

Assists Leaders:
Rojun Abono - 9 assists
Clyde Dexter Widagdo - 8 assists
Joseph Steven Tabernero - 2 assists
Victor Perfecto Sumbang - 2 assists

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

- Leo

China U21 prevails despite Philippines U21's heightened efforts, 75-68 (79236)

Taipei, Taiwan -- Philippines U21 long-prepared for this game for one mission, claim Pool B's top spot. It seemed impossible against a very strong China U21 team, but the team was very optimistic coming out of the dugout. And that was the story in the 1st quarter, in which the Filipinos ends the quarter leading by 8, 27-19.

In the first half, Philippines U21 showed off their balanced scoring with 5 players scoring 6 points. On the other side, they were lead by their behemoth, Cai Baoming, posting 14 points, against the seemingly impregnable box defense by the Filipinos.

That same optimism slowly withered away in the second half as China U21 began to tighten up on the defensive end, limiting the Filipinos' scoring options, and eventually claiming their 3rd win in as many games, 75-68. With this loss, Philippines U21 will now sport a 1-1 record, which is still good for 4th place in Pool B.

Newcomer Russel Masias and Clyde Dexter Widagdo both scored 12 points off the bench to lead Philippines U21 in scoring. Widagdo also added 4 assists and 3 steals. Starters Banjo Maximo Vargas and Jeff Castro each contributed 10 points. Castro also grabbed 8 rebounds and assisted 3 times.

Seymour Stanley continues to lead the team in the rebounding department with 9 rebounds. Meanwhile, Ulysses Maximo Martinez assumed the role of floor general for the team, dishing out 8 assists. He was also part of the scoring barrage in the first quarter.

Long Dikang and Cai Baoming imposed their huge presence down low, as they bullied their way inside, scoring 14 points each. Dikang grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked 3 shots, while Baoming hauled in 8 rebounds. Three other players scored 8 points each for the Chinese: Cong Xuanhan, Kyung-Young Oh and Yan Siguo.

Philippines U21's next opponent will be the unbeaten Singapore U21 team, who won against India U21 earlier. The game wil be held on the 5th of May, 6:00 PM (Manila time). Please continue to support our National Teams!

Points Leaders:
Russel Masias - 12 points
Clyde Dexter Widagdo - 12 points
Banjo Maximo Vargas - 10 points
Jeff Castro - 10 points

Rebounds Leaders:
Seymour Stanley - 9 rebounds
Jeff Castro - 8 rebounds
Sam Castañeda Montezon - 8 rebounds

Assists Leaders:
Ulysses Maximo Martinez - 8 assists
Clyde Dexter Widagdo - 4 assists
Jeff Castro - 3 assists

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

- Leo

Thanks coach! China is just too strong.

I'm also glad Canada U21 is doing well so far.

Philippines U21 gets back on the winning track, overwhelms Singapore U21, 110-86 (79237)

Taipei, Taiwan -- Still reeling from that painful loss against China U21 last week, Philippines U21 vented their ire on Singapore U21, dominating them on both ends, 110-86. The first quarter was quite close, 31-25 in favor of Philippines U21, but the Filipinos surged ahead in the second quarter, scoring 34 points against Singapore U21's 17. The barrage continued in the third quarter, giving the 7-man Singapore U21 team no chance to recover.

At the forefront of the Filipinos' attack was Banjo Maximo Vargas, who scored 34 points on an efficient 14 of 20 field goal shooting, 5 of 8 from the rainbow country. Leonard Espeño added 18 points, while bigmen Seymour Stanley and Sam Castañeda Montezon each contributed 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Ulysses Maximo Martinez had a different mindset in this game and decided to solely focus on being the playmaker for the team. He contributed 15 assists in 29 minutes of gameplay, and 12 of those assists were all in the first half. His 15 assists ties the Philippines U21 record for most assists in a game. The record was previously set by Niel Mabunay in Season 22 against Macau U21, wherein he assisted 15 times in just 22 minutes, off the bench. Unfortunately, Martinez got injured late in the third quarter, so he hadn't had the chance to add on this feat.

Seah Yew Shi and Kum Fu Keong gave it their all for Singapore U21, as they led their team in scoring with 32 and 27 points, respectively. This will be Singapore U21's first loss in this tournament, and they will now sport a 3-1 win-loss record, tied with Japan U21 after their dominating win against Pakistan U21 earlier.

As for Philippines U21, they continue their journey towards a World Cup slot and a shiny trophy as they take on Hanguk U21 on the 12th of May, 6:00 PM (Manila time). Please continue to support our National Teams!

Points Leaders:
Banjo Maximo Vargas - 34 points
Leonard Espeño - 18 points
Seymour Stanley - 15 points

Rebounds Leaders:
Seymour Stanley - 10 rebounds
Sam Castañeda Montezon - 9 rebounds
Jeff Castro - 8 rebounds

Assists Leaders:
Ulysses Maximo Martinez - 15 assists
Banjo Maximo Vargas - 3 assists
Leonard Espeño - 3 assists
Sam Castañeda Montezon - 3 assists

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

- Leo

Last edited by Leo (Pilipinas U21) at 5/12/2025 7:22:36 AM

Leonard Espeño's 32-point outburst powers Philippines U21 to a 129-96 victory over Hanguk U21 (79240)

Taipei, Taiwan -- Leonard Espeño submitted his best showing of the tournament, so far, as Philippines U21 manhandles Hanguk U21 towards its third victory, 129-96. The sweet shooting wing fired on all cylinders as he went on to finish the game with 32 points, on a very efficient 12 of 16 shooting clip. He made 21 points in the first half, which helped tremendously in keeping the Koreans at bay. This huge win gives Philippines U21 a 3-1 win-loss record, which ties them with Singapore U21 in second place in Pool B. This win also gave the Filipinos a ticket to the second round.

The blowout nature of the game allowed the starters to rest in the fourth quarter, which led to huge contributions from the non-starters. Rojun Abono led the bench mob with 15 points and 3 assists, while Clyde Dexter Widagdo and Victor Perfecto Sumbang added 14 points each.

Seymour Stanley started the game once more, and he didn't disappoint as he hauled 11 rebounds, and swatted 4 shots. Jeff Castro also collected 11 rebounds off the bench.

After a record-setting passing performance in their previous game vs Singapore U21, Ulysses Maximo Martinez led the Filipinos in assists with 9, while Widagdo settled for 7 assists of his own.

Dong-Yul Choi and Kwang-Ha Park tried to steer Hanguk U21 to victory, but it wasn't enough to subdue their superior opponents. They each scored 18 points to lead the Koreans in scoring. WIth this loss, Hanguk U21's record now stands at 0-4, which removes them in contention for a second round spot.

Pakistan U21 (0-4) is up next on Philippines U21's calendar. The game is scheduled on the 19th of May, 6:00 PM (Manila time). Please continue to support our National Teams!

Points Leaders:
Leonard Espeño - 32 points
Rojun Abono - 15 points
Clyde Dexter Widagdo - 14 points
Victor Perfecto Sumbang - 14 points

Rebounds Leaders:
Seymour Stanley - 11 rebounds
Jeff Castro - 11 rebounds
Ash Julius Javellana - 8 rebounds

Assists Leaders:
Ulysses Maximo Martinez - 9 assists
Clyde Dexter Widagdo - 7 assists
Rojun Abono - 3 assists

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

- Leo

Philippines U21 claims 3rd win in a row, crushes Pakistan U21, 109-76 (79244)

Taipei, Taiwan -- Philippines U21, once again, displayed dominance on both sides of the court as they cruised past Pakistan U21, 109-76. Four Filipinos scored 11 points each in the first half to help steer Philippines to an early halftime lead, 50-32.

In the end, six players scored in double figures led by Leonard Espeño, who had 21 points, off the bench. Joseph Steven Tabernero followed it up with an impressive 18 points for his first start in this tournament. Seymour Stanley had a huge double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds. Banjo Maximo Vargas and Clyde Dexter Widagdo contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively. Sam Castañeda Montezon, who started at center, secured an ever-elusive quintuple-single of 2 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks. Kidding aside, Montezon did a really great job with his intimidating defensive presence down low.

With this win, Philippines U21's win-loss record now stands at 4-1, which gives them a good grip at the second spot in Pool B, behind China U21's immaculate record of 5-0.

As for Pakistan U21, this is their 5th loss in as many games. Abbas Farahmand and Mehrshad Hafezi led the fight for the Pakistanis as they each dropped 18 points. Farahmand and Farhad Haddadi hauled 17 rebounds each, contributing heavily in the rebounding department for Pakistan U21, which was the only bright spot for them as they somehow outrebounded Philippines U21, 56-54. It didn't help that their backup power forward, Mostafa Jaffery, got injured in the first quarter after Ash Julius Javellana bulldozed him towards the basket.

Philippines U21's last opponent in the first round will be India U21, who, surprisingly, are still in contention for a second round spot after thwarting Hanguk U21 earlier, though it will be a very tough task. They need to win against Philippines U21, and in addition, they are also hoping that China U21 beats Singapore U21 next week with a very huge margin. The game between Philippines U21 and India U21 is scheduled on the 26th of May, 6:00 PM (Manila time). Please continue to support our National Teams!

Points Leaders:
Leonard Espeño - 21 points
Joseph Steven Tabernero - 18 points
Banjo Maximo Vargas - 14 points

Rebounds Leaders:
Seymour Stanley - 15 rebounds
Sam Castañeda Montezon - 9 rebounds
Ash Julius Javellana - 8 rebounds

Assists Leaders:
Clyde Dexter Widagdo - 4 assists
Sam Castañeda Montezon - 4 assists
Joseph Steven Tabernero - 3 assists
Alfred Ronaldo Delan - 3 assists

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

- Leo

Philippines U21 routs India U21 to end first round festivities, 97-65 (79247)

Taipei, Taiwan -- Philippines U21 ended the first round with an astounding win over India U21, who needed a miracle of biblical proportions to make it to the second round. India U21 needed to win this game and for Singapore U21 to lose by a very large margin. Both possible scenarios didn't happen as Singapore U21 tried their best to fend off China U21 to make the margin more manageable, and India U21 were routed from the get-go and didn't get a chance to mount a comeback.

Clyde Dexter Widagdo, tallied 18 points to lead Philippines U21 in scoring. He also added 4 assists to help orchestrate the Filipinos' offense. Leonard Espeño was aggressive on offense, which resulted to 16 points. Atoy Tapia and Joseph Steven Tabernero rounds up the double-digit scorers for the Philippines as they added 12 and 11 points respectively.

Philippines U21 also dominated in the rebounding department, as expected. Seymour Stanley hauled 12 rebounds in this game, on top of his 3 blocks. Russel Masias also joined the rebounding party with 10 boards. Sam Castañeda Montezon also got 10 rebounds, but the highlight of his impressive line were his 4 assists, 3 steals and 5 blocks, and that's coming off the bench!

Sinhvahan Krishnan was the lone bright spot for India U21. He put up 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in a losing effort. Divyatma Ball was the only other double-digit scorer with 14 points. India U21 ends the tournament with a 2-4 win-loss record, missing the second round once again.

Philippines U21 will now await their second round schedule, which will be released tomorrow (27th of May) noon, at the earliest. Crucial games coming up, so please continue to our U21 team and the Seniors team as well!

Points Leaders:
Clyde Dexter Widagdo - 18 points
Leonard Espeño - 16 points
Atoy Tapia - 12 points

Rebounds Leaders:
Seymour Stanley - 12 rebounds
Russel Masias - 10 rebounds
Sam Castañeda Montezon - 10 rebounds

Assists Leaders:
Clyde Dexter Widagdo - 4 assists
Sam Castañeda Montezon - 4 assists
Joseph Steven Tabernero - 3 assists
Russel Masias - 3 assists

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

- Leo

Here's the Second Round schedule for Philippines U21, starting on 2nd of June (all games scheduled at 6:00pm):

June 2 - vs Taiwan U21*
June 9 - vs Australia U21
June 16 - vs Malaysia U21
June 23 - vs Hong Kong U21
June 30 - vs Japan U21

* Homecourt advantage in this tournament

Again, to make it to the Semifinals (medal rounds), we need to make it to the Top 2 of this Pool. This also gives us a chance to qualify for the World Cup next season either by winning in the Semifinals or by winning in the World Cup Barrage game.

No medal for the Top 3 of each pool, but they can still punch a ticket to the World Cup with a World Cup Barrage win.

Good luck to all of us and have a nice day!

Leo

Host Taiwan U21 thrashes Philippines U21 on their home turf, 66-54 (79866)

Taipei, Taiwan -- After a series of wins for Philippines U21, Taiwan U21 gave them a reality check as they fend off Philippines U21, 66-54. If there was an indication of what kind of game this would be, the first half is the perfect example. The first half ended at 30-25 with Taiwan U21 getting the advantage. Both teams shot less than 30% from the field. Both teams were also sloppy with the ball as they turned the ball over too many times.

However, Taiwan U21 recovered in the third quarter as they surge ahead of Philippines U21, 20-9, giving the Taiwanese a safe cushion entering the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Filipinos continued to struggle, eventually handing Taiwan U21 their first win in the second round.

Leonard Espeño was the only double-digit scorer for Philippines U21 with 20 points on 7 of 18 field goal shooting. Tough outing for Joseph Steven Tabernero as he only made 2 out of his 26 attempts on the field for 9 points. Philippines U21's starting bigs, Jeff Castro and Benigno Sasabo, held their own against Taiwan U21's bigmen, collecting a total of 31 rebounds and 7 blocks.

As for Taiwan U21, Tan Libing buried any hopes for the Filipinos to win the game as he tallied 23 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block. Chen Wei Quo added 14 points and 4 steals, while Hsiao Men Kae recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, add to that his 3 blocks. Shang-Guan Ka Hay also did a lot of damage on the defensive end as he collected 18 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

In the post-game press conference, Coach Leo gave huge credits to Taiwan U21's impregnable defense and the home crowd's amazing support for their team. He was also asked about their plans in the coming days. "Twenty thousand jump shots", he jokingly said as he slowly bolted out of the room.

Philippines U21's next assignment will be a game against Australia U21 on 9th of June, 6 pm. Please continue to support our U21 team and the Seniors team as well!

Points Leaders:
Leonard Espeño - 20 points
Joseph Steven Tabernero - 9 points
Banjo Maximo Vargas - 7 points

Rebounds Leaders:
Jeff Castro - 18 rebounds
Benigno Sasabo - 13 rebounds
Sam Castañeda Montezon - 8 rebounds

Assists Leaders:
Ulysses Maximo Martinez - 3 assists
Rojun Abono - 2 assists
Joseph Steven Tabernero - 1 assist
Benigno Sasabo - 1 assist
Sam Castañeda Montezon - 1 assist

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

- Leo