ISTANBUL (Turkey) - The Philippines entered the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey, with high hopes.
However, their journey hasn't been without obstacles. A knee injury to star player Kieffer Alas in their final tune-up game forced them to adjust their strategy on short notice. The Philippines then fell short in their opening matches against Lithuania (107-48) and Spain (96-34).
Despite these setbacks, the Filipino dribblers refuse to be discouraged. Coaches and players alike have emphasized the importance of stepping up as a unit to fill the void left by Alas. "After Kieffer got injured, coaches really emphasized the need to play together and for each other as he is a big factor to our play on both ends of the floor," said Cletz David "CJ" Amos. "Now, everyone needs to put in more to fulfill his contributions."
One guy who has been carrying the load is Bonn Ervin Daja. Over two games, Daja has averaged 9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
For his part, Amos has tried to step up. He scored 10 points against Lithuania but was unable to find the basket against Spain. Still, he, like many on the team, sees their underdog status as a motivator. "Being the smallest in height and lowest ranked in the tournament is a strong motivator," Amos shared. "We are using that doubt as fuel to push through and hopefully be successful." Point guard Joaqui Ludovice echoed this sentiment. "The message after Kieffer's injury is that we have to step up, on and off the court," Ludovice said. "We have to stay focused and fight even without him."
"I believe if we focus on playing for each other especially on the defensive end and execute our offense efficiently we’ll be able to bounce back and get a win in the coming games," said CJ Amos.
Ludovice sees room for improvement, particularly in maintaining consistency throughout the game. "We played well in the first two quarters against Lithuania," he said. "We need to play strong until the fourth quarter in our next games." The Philippines' next challenge comes against Puerto Rico. While a potential knockout round matchup against USA looms large, the Filipino team remains focused on the immediate task at hand. Their fighting spirit and unwavering determination to overcome adversity are a testament to the heart of this young squad. FIBA