TIGER Kent Lao played a pivotal role in helping Energen Pilipinas claim its fifth Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Under-18 title after whipping Indonesia, 81-57, last June 30 in Singapore.
Lao scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds for the squad, which will participate in the FIBA Asia meet in Ulan Bator, Mongolia from August 17 to 26.
“I feel so privileged [to be part of the team]. I’ve learned a lot from it and my confidence got higher because of this experience,” Lao said.
During the tournament, Lao averaged 9.8 points per game (PPG), 6.8 rebounds per outing, and 54.5 percent in field goal shooting.
He was the fourth highest scorer for the Philippines behind National University’s JJ Alejandro (14.0 PPG), Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Ray Benedict Nambatac (12.5 PPG), and Mario Bonleon, Jr. of La Salle Greenhills (12.0 PPG).
The national team swept all their four games, with Lao scoring 10 and six points against Singapore (75-63) and Malaysia (84-65) last June 28 and 29, respectively.
Showing no mercy in its opening game last June 27, the Olsen Racela-mentored Energen Pilipinas walloped Laos by 96 points, 124-28. The 18-year-old Tiger came off the bench with double-double scoring 16 points and 15 rebounds.
But this UST forward is not leaving the lair for good. In fact, it was coach Pido Jarencio who pushed him to try his luck in the 12-man national team.
“Coach Pido (Jarencio) asked me to try out for the national team. It was his decision [for me to take a break with the Growling Tigers]. But hopefully next year, if given the chance, I could go back with them (Tigers),” he said.
