Lithuania, China youth teams to play in RP cage invitational

MANILA, Philippines – World-class competition it wanted, world-class competition it got. Lithuania and China will be fielding teams in the under-18 youth basketball invitational to be held next week. The team from Chinese-Taipei and the Nationals complete the four-squad tournament that begins on August 14 at the Astrodome in Pasay City. “This tournament is going to be part of the preparation of our youth team that will compete in Iran," Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive-director Noli Eala said, referring to the Fiba-Asia Under-18 Championship for Men. “The team is eager to gauge its capacity and there is no better way to do this than compete with Asia’s and Europe’s best," he added in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters’ Association Forum Tuesday at Shakey’s UN Ave. Lithuania will be fielding the team that finished silver in the recent European under-18 competition, while China will be sending no less than its national youth team. “All I can say is that our boys are eager to compete. And since this is the first time that the team will be playing against top teams internationally, I can’t really say how we’ll fair said Tonichi Yturri, one of the Nationals’ assistant coaches in the tournament dubbed the first Nokia-Manila Youth Invitational Basketball Championship. Lithuania coach Vitoldas Masalkis will be bringing in at least three players above seven feet. “[Lithuania] is very enthusiastic to play, although they are a little bit tired coming over as the European tournament had just been finished this week," said Romualdas Vildzius, Lithuania’s consul to the Philippines, said. The RP 5 opens hostilities with Lithuania on August 14 before the Nationals take on Chinese-Taipei on August 15 and China on August 16. The Lithuania and China games will be played at the Astrodome and the Chinese-Taipei match will be at the PhilSports Arena. The final match will also be at the PhilSports Arena. – GMANews.TV